Saddam used UBL
UBL used Saddam
...and there is TONS of evidence to that effect. Rather than accept that (which means accepting that the Dems only catalyst for getting voters to polls is incorrect or even a deliberate series of deliberate lies; ie Iraq), politicians have chosen to tell us the sky is blue at night and black in the day. MSM editors and producers have been telling us that the war in Iraq isn't part of the war with AQ, but today alone AQ announced that it had lost 4000 fighters in Iraq (and no one believes that number is exaggerated, but rather grossly understated).
That I buy - to a limited degree. I haven't seen tons of evidence - but I would imagine it was all under the guise of "The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend".
However, there is no question that TODAY al Qaeda is involved in Iraq. But under an authoritorian secular regime, I don't think al Qaeda was entirely welcome. Especially since it was calling for the overthrow of governments like Saddam's.