"Al Qaeda, both in Iraq and globally, thrives on the American occupation."

"Mr. Bush has played up the group, talking about it as if it is on a par with the perpetrators of the Sept. 11 attacks."

"The broader issue is whether Iraq is a central front in the war against Al Qaeda, as Mr. Bush maintains, or a distraction that has diverted the United States from focusing on the Qaeda sanctuaries in Pakistan while providing Qaeda leaders with a cause for rallying support."

Thanks, Amos, these few snippets may serve to enlightern teribus and a few others who seem to have the blinkers on but somehow I doubt it.

In plain language - Al Qaeda is worldwide. It is not an organization that was or is funded by the Iraqi govt. There was no reason to hunt Al Qaeda in Iraq because until the U.S. invasion, Al Qaeda was mostly in Pakistan. It is the U.S. occupation of Iraq that has resulted in the increase of Al Qaeda operatives.

Since no WMD's were found, it was necessary to use the presence of Al Qaeda in Iraq as a reason for the overthrow and occupation of Iraq. Bush has tried to make a causal connection between 911 and Iraq but there is only a correlation. Bush (and his handlers) have sought to deceive Congress and the citizens of the U.S.A. He has used the media as tool for his propaganda.