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al-Zarqawi had been in Iraq since the fall of Afghanistan and had begun training and planning for attacks against both Jordan and American interests. This was long before anyone knew the USA was going to use military force against the Hussein regime.

This came ot light when the terrorists were caught planning the chemcial attack on Jordan that was to kill some 80,000 people in Jordan. The complete confession was on Jordan TV and the transcript appeared on Jordanian websites.

Bush was absolutely right that al-Qaeda was in Iraq long before the war and planning attacks against US interests.

(you have to login)
http://www.petra.gov.jo/nepras/2004/Apr/26/19114500.htm

or go here:
http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=20579

(copyright fair use)

some snippets:

Full text of confession: Al Qaeda Plans Terrorist Attack in Chemical Weapons against Jordan

Al-Qaeda terrorist group was planning to launch its first terrorist attack with
chemical weapons against Jordan, a leader and members of Al Qaeda terrorist
gang confessed Saturday.

The confessions were made by Azmi Al Jayousi and other members of the gang
and aired tonight by Jordan television.

The terrorist attack was masterminded by terrorist Ahmed Fadheel Al
Khalayleh, nicknamed Abu Mus'ab Al Zarqawi, a top leader of Al Qaeda,
Jayousi said.

The Prime Ministry compound, the Intelligence Department Headquarters and
the U.S. embassy in Amman , were the targets of the attack, Jayousi said.
The gang manufactured 20 tons of chemical explosives that were enough to
kill 20,000 people and injured 160,000, he said.

Their target sites included: the Prime ministry,General Intelligence
Department and the American Embassy.

He added he was directly instructed by Zarqawi to carry out the attack while
they were in Iraq after coming from Afghanistan.

Al Jayyousi started to plan for the operation in Iraq, where he had moved to
from his Leader Abu Musa'ab al Zarqawi. Al Jayyousi had pledged allegiance,
and absolute obedience to Al Zarqawi since he met him in Al Qaeda camps in
Afghanistan.

Azmi Jayyousi: In Herat I started to train as one of Abu Muse'b's fellows. I
took explosives' course, poison high level, then I pledged allegiance to Abu
Mus'eb al Zarqawi, to obey him without any question and to be on his side.
After this Afghanistan fell. I met Abu Mus'eb al Zarqawi again in Iraq...."

Jayyousi: "Upon my return from Afghanistan to Iraq, I met with Abu Mus'eb al
Zarqawi. He had with him Muwaffaq Adwan, Jordanian national, whom I used to
know before from Afghanistan.

Ahmad Samir: I left Jordan to Syria, in order to leave again to Iraq. I met
a guy called Ayman, who is an aide to Abu Mus'eb al Zarqawi. I was unable to
leave to Iraq.