The dishonest MSM and lying Demagogues re-defined the level of “links” to require clear “operational links” meaning command-and-control from Baghdad. This allows the vicious liars to ignore and discount all evidence that is not of the nature of “Saddam ordered THIS terrorist attack on this date and Al Qaeda carried it out” Of course the rational person would consider ANY support or collaboration, plus the potential for FUTURE support of more terrorism, in evaluating Saddam’s relationship with terrorism.
Saddam supported many terrorists, in and out of Al Qaeda. The greatest danger for the USA was that at any moment Saddam could greatly increase future support to serve his ends, and/or could offer Al Qaeda or another group a nice chunk of funds or material support in the interest of carrying out an attack that both agreed was worth doing.
Saddam was a large existing and potential support for terrorists of many stripes, and now he is gone. That is a wonderful thing, except the Demagogues still don’t get it.