But, They Say There Was No Relationship Or Ties Between Iraq & Al-Qaeda

29 Jun, 2004 by John Hawkins

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Ahem…there are those in the left who claim that contrary to what the Bush administration says, there was no relationship or ties between Iraq & Al-Qaeda. You know what I say to that?

“Al Qaeda also forged alliances with the National Islamic Front in the Sudan and with the government of Iran and its associated terrorist group Hezbollah for the purpose of working together against their perceived common enemies in the West, particularly the United States. In addition, al Qaeda reached an understanding with the government of Iraq that al Qaeda would not work against that government and that on particular projects, specifically including weapons development, al Qaeda would work cooperatively with the government of Iraq.” — From a Clinton Administration Justice Department indictment on Nov. 4, 1998

But, they say there was no relationship or ties between Iraq & Al-Qaeda.

“The vice president is saying, I think, that there were connections between Al Qaeda and the Saddam Hussein government. We don’t disagree with that. What we have said is what the governor (Commission Chairman Thomas Kean) just said, we don’t have any evidence of a cooperative, or a corroborative, relationship between Saddam Hussein’s government and these Al Qaeda operatives with regard to the attacks on the United States.” — Lee Hamilton, the former Democratic congressman who is the 9/11 commission’s vice chairman

But, they say there was no relationship or ties between Iraq & Al-Qaeda.

“(Abu Musab al) Zarqawi was said to have received medical treatment in Baghdad in May and June of 2002 after being wounded in Afghanistan during the war. His leg was amputated, U.S. officials say, by a surgeon in Iraq. Before the war, Secretary of State Colin Powell pointed to Zarqawi’s al Qaeda-affiliated group that he said was operating inside Baghdad, as evidence of ties between al Qaeda and Iraq.” — Today, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, who was in Iraq before the war began, is leading terrorist attacks against the Coalition and Iraqi people.

But, they say there was no relationship or ties between Iraq & Al-Qaeda.

“There’s Mr. Yasin, who was a World Trade Center bomber in ’93 (an attack attributed to Al-Qaeda) who fled to Iraq after that. And we’ve found since, when we got into Baghdad, documents showing that he was put on the payroll and given housing by Saddam Hussein after the ’93 attack-in other words, provided safe harbor and sanctuary.” — Dick Cheney

But, they say there was no relationship or ties between Iraq & Al-Qaeda.

“Credible reporting states that al Qaeda leaders sought contacts in Iraq who could help them acquire WMD capabilities. The reporting also stated that Iraq has provided training to al Qaeda members in the areas of poisons and gases and making conventional bombs.” — CIA Director George Tenet in a letter to the Senate Intelligence Committee on October 7, 2002

They say there was no relationship or ties between Iraq & Al-Qaeda. However, they’re wrong.