Why Do Democrats Fear the Al-Qaida/Saddam Relationship? (Michael Barone)

The issue is historical now, but still worth exploring. Why, for two distinct groups of Americans, has it become a matter of conviction held with religious intensity that there cannot have been any relationship between al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq?

One group consists of Democratic politicians who oppose the Bush administration's policy in Iraq. The Minnesota Democratic Party recently protested as "un-American" an ad showing military veterans and their families supporting the president's policies for saying, "Our enemy in Iraq is al-Qaida -- the same terrorists who killed 3,000 Americans on 9-11, the same terrorists from the first World Trade Center bombing, the USS Cole, Madrid, London and many more."

The Democrats, unfactually, say that these words "make a connection between Iraq and the 9-11 terrorists attacks and suggest that the war in Iraq will prevent an attack by al-Qaida in America." But of course, the ad is factually correct -- al-Qaida is attacking Americans in Iraq -- and the Minnesota Democratic Party is in no position to guarantee that al-Qaida will not attack America.

The other group consists of intelligence and other career government professionals, many of them Arabists. Case in point: Paul Pillar, CIA national intelligence officer for the Near East and South Asia from 2000 to 2005, now retired, writing in the most recent Foreign Affairs magazine. The "greatest discrepancy between the administration's public statements and the intelligence community's judgments concerned not WMD (there was indeed a broad consensus that such programs existed), but the relationship between Saddam and al-Qaida. The enormous attention devoted to this subject did not reflect any judgment by intelligence officials that there was or was likely to be anything like the 'alliance' the administration said existed." But the Senate Intelligence Committee report showed that the CIA did obtain evidence of an al-Qaida-Saddam relationship from foreign intelligence and open sources.

That's not surprising. CIA Director George Tenet in October 2002 told Congress of "growing indications of a relationship with al-Qaida." And of course evidence of contacts between al-Qaida and Saddam's regime went back to the 1990s and were cited, without murmur of dissent, by President Bill Clinton.

So why do these Democrats and these government professionals seem to have such a conviction that there must have been no collaboration between al-Qaida and Saddam? The Democrats fear that more Americans would support Bush and the war effort if they believed there was. The career professionals, with their many years of training in the subtleties of the Middle East, have developed a vested interest in the notion that religious Wahhabis like al-Qaida could never collaborate with a secular tyrant like Saddam. If alliances could be formed across religious lines, what use would all their learning be?

The Minnesota Democrats cite the 9-11 commission's report that it found no evidence of "operational" cooperation between al-Qaida and Iraq, although it did find evidence of many contacts. But, as Donald Rumsfeld likes to say, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Neither al-Qaida nor Saddam operated under a Freedom of Information Act. Any collaboration between them on 9-11 would have been kept very secret -- al-Qaida did not want to leave a return address. We do not know that there was such collaboration. But we also do not know that there was not.

Going back to the days before our military action in Iraq, it would have been irresponsible for any president to have assumed that there was no relationship between al-Qaida and Iraq, given previous contacts between them and their proven hostility to the United States.

President Clinton, responsibly, did not assume that, and neither did President Bush. Nor was there any information that intelligence could have been acquired that could have assured us, with 100 percent certainty, that there was no such relationship.

Light on the Saddam regime's collaboration with terrorists will almost certainly be shed by analysis of some 2 million documents captured in Iraq. But, as the intrepid Stephen Hayes of The Weekly Standard has pointed out, almost none of those documents has been translated or released either to the public or to the congressional intelligence committees. It appears that career professionals and, perhaps, political appointees have been blocking release of these documents.

Why do their superiors not order them released? Many Americans cling with religious intensity to the notion that somehow Saddam had no terrorist ties -- a notion used to delegitimize our war effort. We should bring the truth, or as much of it as is available, out into the open.

The 90's:

Saddam's Fingerprints on NY Bombing
June 28, 1993. The Wall Street Journal. Laurie Mylroie
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1115387/posts

The Clinton Justice Department's indictment against OBL in federal court which mentions the terrorist's connections to Iraq.
November 4, 1998. The federal indictment
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/985906/posts?page=30#30

Iraq and AQ agree to cooperate. The federal indictment against OBL working in concert with Iraq and Iran is mentioned.
November 1998. The New York Times
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/985906/posts

Saddam reaching out to OBL
January 1, 1999. Newsweek
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1158277/posts

ABC news reports on the Osama/Saddam connections
January 14, 1999. ABC News
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1229608/posts?page=1

Osama and Saddam Work Together
January 27, 1999. Laurie Mylroie interview. She is a former Clinton terrorism czar.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1158482/posts

A Much Shunned Terrorist Takes Refuge In Iraq (Abu Nidal)
New York Times. January 1999.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1433610/posts

Western Nightmare: Saddam and OBL versus the World. Iraq recruited OBL.
February 6, 1999. The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/alqaida/story/0,12469,798270,00.html

Saddam's Link to OBL
February 6, 1999. The Guardian
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/866105/posts

Saddam offered asylum to bin Laden
February 13, 1999. Associated Press
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1158274/posts

Son of Saddam coordinates with OBL.
Iraqi Special Ops coordinates with Bin Laden's terrorist activities.
August 6, 1999. Yossef Bodansky, National Press Club
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/951911/posts

List of newspaper articles written in the 90's which mention the world's concern regarding the growing relationship between OBL and Saddam.
FrontPage Magazine.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/946809/posts?page=1

The Clinton View of Iraq/AQ Ties.
The Weekly Standard.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/527uwabl.asp

2001:
Fritz Hollings mentioned on the floor of the Senate that Iraq's state run newspaper knew exactly what was coming to the United States -- in July 2001 they published an article about it.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1472699/posts?page=1

Before 9/11 (August 2001?), Saddam put his military on the highest state of readiness since the first Gulf War, goes into a bunker with his two wives (who hated each other and had never before been housed together) and does not emerge until well after 9/11.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1520824/posts?page=17#17
From the book: Saddam - King of Terror

The Iraqis, who for several years paid smaller groups to do their dirty work, were quick to discover the advantages of Al-Qaeda.
September 19, 2001. Jane's.
http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/fr/fr010919_1_n.shtml

Iraq was in contact with Al Qaeda in the days preceeding 9/11 and thought to have sponsored the 911 attacks.
September 21, 2001. The Washington Times. Bill Gertz
http://www.papillonsartpalace.com/iraqS.htm

Bin Laden met Iraqi Agent.
September 28, 2001. The Miami Herald.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/534617/posts

German investigators link Iraq to anthrax attack.
October 26, 2001. Anova.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/780782/posts

Saddam behind first WTC attack.
October 18, 2001. Laurie Mylroie, Clinton anti-terrorism czar. PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/gunning/interviews/mylroie.html

Hijacker given anthrax by Iraq
October 27, 2001. The Times.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/557446/posts

The media certainly were pushing Iraq as being connected to AQ and possibly behind 9/11 shortly after September 11, 2001. A compilation of media comments and articles:
November 17, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/984758/posts

2002:

Salman Pak. Satellite discussion about the terror camps in Iraq.
January 7, 2002. Aviation Weekly.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/865435/posts

Intercepted call links Saddam to AQ.
February 7, 2002. The Telegraph
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/837605/posts

Report linking anthrax and 9/11 hijackers is probed.
March 23, 2002. The New York Times.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/652000/posts

Osama met with Saddam in Iraq.
March 23, 2002. The Times of India
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/746741/posts

Militia Defector says Baghdad trained Al Qaeda fighters in chemical weapons.
July 14, 2002. The Sunday Times.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/743892/posts

September 11 Victims Sue Iraq.
September 4, 2002. BBC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/2237332.stm

Families sue Iraq over 9/11. Thousands of 9/11 victims and family members sue Iraq based on evidence that Iraq knew the attacks were coming, approved the attacks, and supported Al Qaeda for a decade. The lawsuit also notes Iraq's involvement in the first WTC attack.
September 5, 2002. CBS.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/09/05/september11/main520874.shtml

Did Atta meet in Prague with an Iraqi government official?
June 19, 2002.
http://www.computerbytesman.com/911/praguefaq.htm

Democrats insisted on a separate war resolution as it pertains to Iraq.
Their language that they inserted into the Iraqi war resolution mentions specifically that it is known that AQ is in Iraq.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1513660/posts?page=2

Gephardt says lots of intelligence links OBL and Saddam.
October 6, 2002. Newsmax.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/764011/posts

Iraq War Resolution Demanded and Written and Signed by Democrats. Mentions how AQ is ALREADY IN IRAQ (despite the left trying to say the war drew AQ to Iraq)
October 2002.
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=107_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ243.107

2003:

Colin Powell: Iraq and Al Qaeda were partners for years.
February 5, 2003. Colin Powell interview on CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/02/05/sprj.irq.alqaeda.links/
Freeper Republic Strategist's list of links between AQ and Iraq.
February 7, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/850346/post

Saddam and OBL Make a Pact.
February 10, 2003. The New Yorker.
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?030210fa_fact

Australia PM has lots of information regarding Iraq/AQ connections.
March 14, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/864277/posts

Spain links 9/11 suspect to Baghdad.
March 16, 2003. The Observer.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,915142,00.html

The AQ connection to Iraq
April 12, 2003. The Weekly Standard http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/944617/posts?page=2

Saddam's regime linked to several religious extremist groups (including AQ).
April 17, 2003. The Daily Telegraph.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/894721/posts

More evidence. Newspaper finds documents in Baghdad which directly prove the links between OBL and Saddam. The paperwork details meetings and when and where they occurred. Also found documents that Russia passed on to Iraq detailing private conversations between Blair and Italy's Berlusconi.
April 27, 2003. The Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F04%2F27%2Fwalq27.xml

Wolfowitz Says Saddam behind 9/11 Attacks:
June 1, 2003. Newsweek.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/921398/posts

Oil for Food Scandal Ties Iraq and Al Qaeda.
June 20, 2003. Forward Magazine.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1125899/posts

A judge sees the documents linking OBL and Saddam.
June 25, 2003. The Tennessean.
http://tennessean.com/nation-world/archives/03/06/34908297.shtml?Element_ID=34908297

The Al Qaeda Connection with Iraq.
July 11, 2003. The Weekly Standard.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/944617/posts?page=2

List of newspaper articles written in the 90's which mention the world's concern regarding the growing relationship between OBL and Saddam.
July 14, 2003. FrontPage Magazine.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/946809/posts?page=1

Growing Evidence of Saddam and Al Qaeda Link.
July 16, 2003. FrontPage Magazine.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/946997/posts

What the administration said. And what they didn't use, but could have regarding the relationship between OBL and Saddam. The Iraqi regime paid Zawahiri $300,000 in '98 when his Islamic jihad merged with Al Qaeda.
September 1, 2003. The Weekly Standard.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/969032/posts

Free Republic Thread that mentions books on this topic. Former CIA Director James Woolsey and other notables recommend these books as well.
September 6, 2003.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/977221/posts?page=8

Memo shows Iraq contacted OBL.
September 12, 2003. The Washington Times.
http://www.washtimes.com/world/20030912-012437-3992r.htm

Vice President Cheney lectures Russert on Iraq/911 Link
Al Qaeda sent personnel to Baghdad to get training for terrorist activities. He mentions Iraq's involvement in the first WTC bombing in 1993.
September 15, 2003. Interview.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/982713/posts

Iraq and terrorism - no doubt about it. Specific names of Al Qaeda terrorists working in and with Iraq
September 19, 2003. National Review.
http://www.nationalreview.com/robbins/robbins091903.asp

Iraq and AQ: A Federal Judge's Point of View
September 20, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/986293/posts

Mohammed's Account links Iraq to 9/11 and first WTC attack:
September 22, 2003. Newsweek.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/987075/posts

Richard Miniter details the names and specific connections including the Iraqi who was involved in the first WTC bombing and lived in Iraq.
September 25, 2003. Richard Minister
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/989201/posts

The connection between Iraq and 9/11
Fox News. September 2003.
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,97063,00.html

Saddam's Terror Ties that Critics Ignore.
October 21, 2003. The National Review.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1005579/posts

Osama's Best Friend: The Further Connections Between Al Qaeda and Saddam.
November 3, 2003. The Weekly Standard
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1007969/posts

Stephen Hayes book, The Intel Links OBL and Saddam.
November 15, 2003. The Weekly Standard.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,103176,00.html

The media certainly were pushing Iraq as being connected to AQ and possibly behind 9/11 shortly after September 11, 2001. A compilation of media comments and articles:
November 17, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/984758/posts

Article with many links. How Saddam paid AQ to commit attacks against America.
November 17, 2003. FrontPage magazine.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=10848

Case Closed.
November 24, 2003. The Weekly Standard
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/378fmxyz.asp

The Terrorist behind 9/11 was trained by Saddam
December 14, 2003. The Telegraph.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1146356/posts?page=1

The Clinton View of Iraq/AQ Ties.
December 29, 2003. The Weekly Standard.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/527uwabl.asp

2004:

Saddam behind anthrax attacks?
January 1, 2004. Accuracy in Media.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1052221/posts?page=33
4:

Tape Shows General Wesley Clark linking Iraq and AQ
January 12, 2004. The New York Times.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1056113/posts

Saddam's Ambassador to Al Qaeda.
February 23, 2004, The Weekly Standard.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1083778/posts

Article details the number of terrorists who have attacked America in the past and taken refuge in Iraq. Loaded with interesting bullet points.
March 14, 2004. Scripps Howard News Service via NewsMax.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1097521/posts?page=1

James Woolsey, former CIA Director, links Iraq and AQ. See also Posts #34 and #35.
March 23, 2004. CNN Interview
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1104121/posts

Less than two months before 9/11/01, the state-controlled Iraqi newspaper “Al-Nasiriya” carried a column headlined, “American, an Obsession called Osama Bin Ladin.” (July 21, 2001)

In the piece, Baath Party writer Naeem Abd Muhalhal predicted that bin Laden would attack the US “with the seriousness of the Bedouin of the desert about the way he will try to bomb the Pentagon after he destroys the White House.”

The same state-approved column also insisted that bin Laden “will strike America on the arm that is already hurting,” and that the US “will curse the memory of Frank Sinatra every time he hears his songs” – an apparent reference to the Sinatra classic, “New York, New York”.
March 28, 2004, NewsMax
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1106657/posts?page=1

Al Qaeda's Poison Gas
April 29,2 004. The Wall Street Journal
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005016

Saddam Linked to 9/11.
May 11, 2004. FrontPage Magazine. Laurie Mylroie, Clinton's anti-terrorism czar.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1133317/posts

Bush says Zarqawi killed Berg. Cites Saddam ties.
May 15, 2004. Reuters.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1136076/posts

More on Shakir. Did he meet with 9/11 planners?
May 27, 2004. The Wall Street Journal.
http://opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005133

The Connections. Detailed.
May 28, 2004. The Weekly Standard.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1144123/posts?page=11

Saddam's role in 9/11.
May 29, 2004. A Freeper book.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1144699/posts?page=5

Clinton mentioned how AQ was developing a relationship with Iraq. Also see Post #5.
June 1, 2004. The Miami Herald.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1145787/posts

Read into the Congressional Record regarding the ties between OBL and Saddam. (Part 1)
June 1, 2004
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r108:42:./temp/~r1082srpxN:e0:

More read into the Congressional Record (Part 2).
June 1, 2004
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r108:42:./temp/~r1082srpxN:e2357:

More read into the Congressional Record (Part 3).
June 1, 2004
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r108:42:./temp/~r1082srpxN:e12612:

More read into the Congressional Record (Part 4).
June 1, 2004
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?r108:42:./temp/~r1082srpxN:e23985:

Exploring the links between 9/11 and Iraq.
June 2, 2004. CBN.com
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1146319/posts?page=1

New Iraqi Chief Links 9/11 to Saddam.
June 2, 2004. NewsMax.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1146579/posts?page=1

Pre-Bush Timeline of Saddam/OBL Ties
June 12, 2004. Freeper Blackrain4xmas research
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1152923/posts?page=1

Cheney claims Iraq/AQ connections
June 14, 2004. Associated Press
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1153781/posts?page=20

Britain insists that AQ was in Iraq pre war.
June 17, 2004. MiddleEast Online.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1155369/posts

Cheney says definite ties between Iraq/AQ and outraged at NYT Misleading Headline.
June 17, 2004. CNBC Capitol Report via Drudge
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1155520/posts?page=1

How the Networks Pretend to Ignore their own Reporting from the 1990's.
June 17, 2004. Media Research Center
http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2004/cyb20040617.asp

There was a link between OBL and Saddam.
June 20, 2004. The Sunday Telegraph.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1156634/posts

9/11 Commission says prominent member of AQ served in Iraq's militia.
June 20, 2004. Reuters.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1156957/posts

9/11 Commission reaffirms Bush administration view of Iraq/AQ ties.
June 21, 2004. RNC.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1157478/posts

How Saddam collaborated with Osama bin Laden. Interview with Stephen Hayes with excellent information.
June 23, 2004. FrontPage Magazine.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1158493/posts

The Clinton Administration first linked Saddam and OBL.
June 25, 2004. The Washington Times.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040624-112921-3401r.htm

Documents Shows Iraq Intel Agents Met with OBL.
June 25, 2004. Associated Press.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1160146/posts

More evidence of Iraq/AQ relationship.
June 25, 2004. New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/25/politics/25TERR.html?ei=5070&en=441dbd2a3bae663c&ex=1089259200&pagewanted=print&position=

Putin warned President Bush after 9/11 that Saddam Hussein planned to attack America.
June 28, 2004. Media Research Center.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1161677/posts

Freeper blog (Windsofchange) and links to 9/11 Commission report with specific references to the ways in which Iraq/AQ were connected and worked together.
July 11, 2004.
http://windsofchange.net/archives/005191.php#al-qaeda

Long List of Clinton Administration Officials who Believed There was an AQ/Iraq connection.
July 12, 2004. NewsMax.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1169397/posts

Gore, Cohen, Clinton linked AQ and Saddam.
July 15, 2004. The Daily Texan.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1165515/posts

Gore, Cohen, Clinton linked AQ and Saddam.
July 15, 2004. The Daily Texan.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1165515/posts

What the Senate Intelligence Report REALLY said about the connections between Iraq and Al Qaeda.
July 22, 2004. The Weekly Standard.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1173423/posts

The 9/11 Commission found specific connections between Iraq and AQ. Specific names and dates are given from the report.
July 22, 2004. The Daily Standard.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/354tdeij.asp

The 9/11 Commission and Iraq/AQ Connections.
July 26, 2004. The Weekly Standard.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1173008/posts

Clinton feared Iraq gave AQ chemical weapons in Sudan under a cooperative agreement they had.
July 2004. 9/11 Commission
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1087373948467

Information about Shakir, the Iraqi who met with AQ at a pre-9/11 planning meeting. Also information about the Iraqi who mixed the chemicals for the bomb of the first WTC bombing.
August 2, 2004. The Weekly Standard.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/357lnryy.asp?pg=2

Specific quotes from 9/11 Commission Report regarding links between AQ and Iraq.
July 30, 2004.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1182042/posts
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1193821/posts

Contact between OBL and Saddam are beyond dispute.
August 18, 2004. The Washington Times.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1193821/posts

List of CIA and various Reports regarding Iraq's support for terrorists, terrorism and AQ.
September 16, 2004. The Weekly Standard.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/631slkle.asp

Kerry disputing 9/11 Commission and Senate Intelligence Reports. Actual page numbers and quotes within article of what the Reports DID say regarding the connections.
September 20, 2004. The Weekly Standard.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1214954/posts

Fox News reports that Saddam may have used Oil for Food money to fund Al Qaeda.
September 20, 2004. Fox News Channel.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,132682,00.html

Excellent resource. Pictures. Charts.
Bomber from '93 WTC bombing received salary from Iraq.
Salmon Pak - terrorists trained on how to use forks and knives to hijack a plane.
Iraq was Islamic terror central.
September 22, 2004. Deroy Murdock, Hoover Institute.
http://www.husseinandterror.com/

Both the Senate Intelligence Committee Report and the 9/11 Commission documented the links and relationship between AQ and Iraq.
October 5, 2005. The Weekly Standard.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/731hezhy.asp?pg=2

CNSNews.com Publishes Iraqi Intelligence Docs
CNSNews ^ | October 11, 2004 | David Thibault
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1241500/posts

Osama bin Laden was considered an Iraqi Intelligence asset.
October 14, 2004. National Review.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1246505/posts

Saddam - The Terrorist's Banker
October 15, 2004. The Scotsman
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1245719/posts

Senate Intelligence Report says Zarqawi operated out of Saddam controlled territory - Baghdad.
October 20, 2004. The Weekly Standard.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/803czhfn.asp

It looks like the 9/11 Commission got an important detail wrong. Shakir probably DID work the Iraqi Fedayeen and he had documents on him when arrested that linked him to the 1993 WTC bombing. And he drove the 9/11 hijackers to a planning meeting.
October 23, 2004. The Hoover Institute. http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1254304/posts?page=1

Saddam was the ATM to Al Qaeda.
November 16, 2004. The Weekly Standard.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=15919

CIA Agent Scheuer USED to believe there was an Iraq/AQ link. Now he just wants face time on television and is pretending there was never a link.
November 23, 2004. The Weekly Standard.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1286540/posts

Oil for Food Scandal may have funded 9/11.
December 4, 2004. NewsMax quotes The Weekly Standard.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1294424/posts?page=35

Iraqi Intelligence officers planted a sleeper cell (at least one) in the United States. The man is now under arrest and Iraqi agents are cooperating.
December 22, 2004. CBS.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1306842/posts

2005

New list by Richard Minister of the Connections Between OBL and Saddam.
February 4, 2005.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1335971/posts?page=7

Freeper book, Saddam's Ties to Osama, great review at Amazon.
February 2005.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1335596/posts

Symposium; Experts gather to discuss relationship between Iraq/AQ
February 11, 2005. FrontPage Magazine.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=16985

It's all about 9/11 (Iraq and OBL connections)
National Review. June 2005.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1433221/posts

The Clinton Administration's Case Against WMD in Iraq
April 2005
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1513669/posts?page=1

The Saddam-Osama Link Confirmed.
June 20, 2005. FrontPage magazine.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1426816/posts?page=20

GOP Lawmaker Says Saddam Linked to 9/11
CNN. June 2005
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/06/29/hayes.911/index.html

Saddam was Motel 6 to terrorist. Whole article and Post #6 complete with a picture.
NewsMax. June 2005
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1433908/posts

Thwarted Jordan WMD attack; jihadists got money and weapons from Iraq
June 30, 2005. AP
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1434136/posts?page=3#3

THESE CONNECTIONS MUST BE USED TO COUNTER THE LEFTIST SPING THAT SADDAM DIDN'T SUPPORT AL QAEDA. AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ

July 2005. The Weekly Standard.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1440001/posts

A blog with great links regarding the relationship.
July 2005.
http://www.newspundit.net/saddamalqaedawmd.html

The Pope of Terrorism
July 2005. The Weekly Standard
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/880qqeoh.asp

The Pope of Terrorism, Part II
July 2005. The Weekly Standard
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/005/884ygeya.asp

Saddam financially supported an AQ affiliate in Algeria
August 2005. The Weekly Standard
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1456433/posts

9/11 Commission did NOT include information they now admit they knew. In 2000, some of the 9/11 hijackers were on the radar, but Clinton did nothing.
August 2005. Philadelphia paper
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1459716/posts

Operation Able Danger. What the 9/11 Commission knew and didn't know. What Clinton did and didn't do.
August 2005.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1460263/posts

More on Atta in Prague, the Iraqi intel agent arrested in Germany who was linked to AQ and Ramzi Yousef's Iraq passport (Youseff bombed the WTC in '93)
August 12, 2005. Captain's Quarters
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/005200.php

9/11 Probe could highlight Iraq link to 9/11
August 2005. NewsMax
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1471999/posts

The Iraqis the 9/11 Commission Report forgot to mention as they relate to 9/11.
September 2005. The Weekly Standard.
Must read.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1472411/posts

Who is lying about Iraq (Hint -- It's The democrats)
November 2005. John Podhoritz
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/Production/files/podhoretz1205advance.html

Records found in Iraq dated ten months before 9/11 indicates that Saddam Hussein’s employees clandestinely met Taliban and al Qaeda agents regarding a “decision to operate.” That and more.
National Review. 12/21/05
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1545868/posts?page=21

Kuwait sentences Al Qaeda terrorists who have connections to Iraq.
Reuters. December 27, 2005.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1547483/posts

MISCELLANEOUS

9/11 Hijacker sought treatment for red hands (anthrax).
October 11, 2001. Palm Beach Post.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/546116/posts

Tabloid Editor rented apartment to two 9/11 hijackers. The tabloid lost a worker to anthrax.
October 15, 2001. Miami Herald.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/548061/posts

Hijackers linked to anthrax.
October 15, 2001. St. Petersburg Times.
http://www.sptimes.com/News/101501/Worldandnation/Hijackers_linked_to_t.shtml

9/11 Hijackers treated for anthrax.
March 23, 2002. The New York Times.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/652000/posts

Remember Anthrax?
April 20, 2002. The Weekly Standard.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/669487/posts
9/24/01. ABC.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/531023/posts

Hijacker treated for anthrax.
May 9, 2002. The Wall Street Journal.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/682921/posts

Atta tried to buy a cropduster.
June 6, 2002. ABC.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/695924/posts

Analysis of anthrax letters.
June 19, 2002. Instapundit.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/703075/posts?page=44#44

Freeper My Identity research on anthrax letters. Post #44.
6/20/02.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/703075/posts?page=44#44

The silica used in the anthrax attacks traced to Iraq.
October 28, 2002. The Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A28334-2002Oct27&notFound=true

Freeper Backhoe's list of links.
February 2, 2003
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/838309/posts

Freeper Republican Strategist list of links.
February 24, 2003.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/850346/posts

Freeper polemikos list of links to investigations regarding anthrax.
December 26, 2003.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1047022/posts

Evidence Iraq behind anthrax attacks.
January 1, 2004. Accuracy in Media
http://www.aim.org/publications/media_monitor/2004/01/01.html

Freeper Christie's list of links. Great chart.
September 26, 2004.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1227437/posts?page=1

Saddam behind anthrax attacks and 9/11 attacks.
Independent website.
http://www.spiritoftruth.org/iraqlinks.htm

9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta stayed at the same motel as the Oklahoma City Bombers.
http://www.marsearthconnection.com/okc.html

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