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I do not dispute that Hussein had links to AQ. I believe that he did. My disagreement is that we align with Shiites that are backed by Hezbullah, in order to battle AQ. The only thing that Hezb and AQ agree on is the killing of US and coalition forces. That is my rub. Iraqi police and military go AWOL when they have to enforce laws against their own tribe or sect. They are not willing or capable of the discipline to fight for their own freedom. This according to the quarterly reports submitted by the administration to Congress. That the ISG came to the identical conclusions, yet recommended stupid courses of action (such as negotiating directly with Hezbullah Iranians and Syrians) is not surprising.

I do not dispute that Hussein had links to AQ.

I've never seen evidence that these "links" amounted to anything more than occasional and fleeting contacts because of a common enemy. They cannot be described as an alliance or even cooperation. There certainly is no evidence that Saddam was involved in 9-11 and even the Bush administration agrees that the Atta meeting is a myth. Fundamentally, the AQ types hated Saddam and the secularist government he represented.