Brain Fertilizer

Andrew McCarthy explains that there are credible links between Iraq and al Qaeda. The 9/11 Commission's statement is unclear; it actually says there is no credible evidence of involvement in the attacks on 9/11. Taken literally, there is still a possibility Iraq was connected to the attacks on 9/11, they just didn't uncover the evidence. More likely, however, is that there were mulitple connections between Iraq and al Qaeda, and between Saddam al-Hussein and Osama bin Laden, just not regarding 9/11. People who are emotionally committed to downplaying that link for political purposes will quote the conclusion as if it vindicates them and condemns President Bush. They should read this article.

Excerpt:

As journalist Stephen Hayes reiterated earlier this month, Tenet, on October 7, 2002, wrote a letter to Congress, which asserted:

Our understanding of the relationship between Iraq and Al Qaeda is evolving and is based on sources of varying reliability. Some of the information we have received comes from detainees, including some of high rank. We have solid reporting of senior level contacts between Iraq and Al Qaeda going back a decade. Credible information indicates that Iraq and Al Qaeda have discussed safe haven and reciprocal nonaggression. Since Operation Enduring Freedom, we have solid evidence of the presence in Iraq of Al Qaeda members, including some that have been in Baghdad. We have credible reporting that Al Qaeda leaders sought contacts in Iraq who could help them acquire W.M.D. 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. Iraq's increasing support to extremist Palestinians coupled with growing indications of relationship with Al Qaeda suggest that Baghdad's links to terrorists will increase, even absent U.S. military action.

Tenet, as Hayes elaborated, has never backed away from these assessments, reaffirming them in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee as recently as March 9, 2004.

UPDATE:
With all due respect to the professionals, Ace actually does a better job documenting the media's dishonesty in this than Andrew McCarthy did.

UDPATE II:
I'm not trying to do a definitive round-up, and have probably missed some people, but here's Bill INDC's take. And even President Putin backs President Bush more than our own news services.

And the news services? Here's their weak and distortive counter-attack. All they can muster to support the blatantly inaccurate headlines is one lousy blockquote? Even NRO's Andrew McCarthy found three to help support his position. Someone fisk Ed Kaplan, please.

UDPATE III:
And I guess the announcement by President Putin is why Vice President Cheney spoke so confidently. Consider it as a deliberate battle plan: 9/11 Commission makes a weak statement, Cheney eggs on the media by claiming a strong connection, news media predictably distorts the whole deal in an Anti-Bush direction, then Putin slams 'em all to...to wherever people are blown when they set themselves up to look stupid. If so...brilliant, just brilliant.