"This is the first time I've heard anyone state that Hussein may have 'masterminded 9/11'"
This is what these "smart people" keep doing. It is simply propaganda. They set up the straw man by lying about what happened (i.e. Saddam masterminded 9/11) and then easily knock the straw man down so they can crow about how right and smart they are.
I was on the receiving end of the, "stupid republicans believe Saddam caused 9/11," myth this weekend. I simply challenged the person making the statement to come up with a prominant republican that believes this. The person could not. The best he could do was give me the old, "everyone knows it" lie. I then explained that he was using the straw man propaganda technique as I explained above. He got pretty mad and refused to talk further. Funny!
Owl, sounds like you trapped amother rodent in your talons.