Tell me dianavan, who was Abu Musab al-Zarqawi again?

Ansar al-Islam was formed in December 2001, it was formed by 300 armed men, many of these veterans from the Soviet-Afghan War. Now can anybody think why in December 2001, 300 seasoned Islamic warriors should flee Afghanistan and set up shop in Iraq? Again please note the date dianavan December 2001. Remember your contention was that Al-Qaeda personnel did not enter Iraq until after March 2003. Could it possibly have anything to do with any of the following factors:

1) Taleban and Al-Qaeda had just recently received the biggest shock in their miserable lives - ousted from power in Afghanistan and now on the run literally for their lives.

2) Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's training camps funded by one Osama bin Laden (Head of Al-Qaeda) were located in and around the Afghan city of Herat dianavan. Look at a map dianavan you will find the city of Herat in the west of Afghanistan near the Iranian border.

3) In the immediate aftermath of the attacks of 11th September, 2001, dianavan, who was the only national leader to publicly applaud the attacks and praise the attackers? Rhetorical question dianavan, you have no need to answer - it was Saddam Hussein of Iraq matter of record.

4) Where were Ansar al-Islam allowed to set up shop in Iraq dianavan? Was it anywhere close to the Iranian border? There was some mention of their camps being within range and cover of Iranian artillery. Saddam let them set up shop to act against the Kurds that he couldn't touch, but that would not predispose the membership of Ansar al-Islam to necessarily trust Saddam. So dianavan, in December 2001 they set up shop inside Iraq within easy bolting distance of Iran.