True. I do remember very early on, though, that Bush specified the fact that Iraq would be a focal point in the battle against AQ. This statement was promptly ridiculed by the Dems, who insisted that there was no connection between AQ and Saddam.
It is obvious now that there was, and in fact this was known at the time but rejected by the Dems (no amount of proof from all the spy agencies in the world would have been enough to convince them).
Saddam's Baathist Sunnis clearly were/are hand in glove with AQ. Obviously, they didn't need AQ's services to run Iraq while Saddam was in power, with the result that AQ was free to devote itself to planning attacks on the US, but the Sunnis certainly need those services to get Iraq back again.
Here is another threat from a Zaqawi affiliate in Northern Iraq (probably Krekar's pals) that is making news in Norway today. The "mercenaries" in question are humantarian aid workers... :
The Al-Rudd Brigades Issues Warning to the Governments of the European Countries, Stressing Holland, Denmark and Norway, to Remove Their “Mercenaries” from Northern Iraq Within Two Weeks
By SITE Institute
July 16, 2005
In a statement posted today, July 16, 2005, to a Zarqawi-affiliated website, a group calling itself al-Rudd (the Responders) Brigades of the Mountain, the Level land, and the Two Rivers, warns the “foreigners and the crusaders” of European to withdraw their organizations from Arbil, northern Iraq, within two weeks, or the mujahideen will “strike all the foreigners and the mercenaries.” The message specifies Holland, Denmark and Norway amongst these European countries.
Further, the group alleges that a Dutch citizen of Iraqi descent, “who sold his soul and his faith to the occupiers,” and worked for Dutch intelligence, was captured. Dutch documents were found on his person that were subsequently translated into Arabic, and “Allah’s order was issued on him.”
Al-Rudd Brigades claims to be fighting the “traitors and the converters” in northern Iraq, and are “accountable for the all the jihad operations” executed within this area.
A full translation of the statement is provided to our Intel Service members.
http://siteinstitute.org/bin/articles.cgi?ID=publications69105&Category=publications&Subcategory=0
I think there are serious errors in your statements.
1.Sadam and AQ never were on the same page.
2.alzari actualy came to iraq after leaving Afganistan because his division was over run.More ironic is the fact when he came to Iraq he hooked up with the Kurdish group in the north(remember they are the allies the americans forgot about after Desert storm)
3.AQ and the other groups whom america calls terrorists only work together to elimanate the foriegn precence.After that there objectives are very different.
4.Would it not be easier to elimanate these so called terrorist if the U.S.A would re-examine there foriegn policies.I would bet if the american goverment would elimanate there support in Saudi Arabia and Eliminate there sponsership of a government that has violated the UN mandate for 38 years.You would see governments change yes, but not attacks on america.I hope people soon learn the problems are not as simple as what Mr. Bush would have you believe.Aq is not a terrorist organization to alot of muslims but a revolution to the masses.when you can change that belief you will win this so called WOT.I leave you with this"liberation comes from with-in if not then it is and always will be a occupation"Mike