Evidence links
al Qaeda to Iraq
This letter is in response to Steve Pitzen's letter in the March 15 Enterprise. Pitzen objects to a television ad showing veterans and grieving families espousing pride in their service and sacrifice. It seems that Pitzen has forgotten about the 1st Amendment rights of these individuals.
The people featured in the ad that makes Pitzen sick belong to an organization called Families United for our Troops. If you go to their Web site, you will find they are a non-political group organized solely to honor their service and the sacrifice of their loved ones. The ad was paid for by Progress for American Voters Fund. The Families United members have just as much of a right to express their views as does Cindy Sheehan. Does Pitzen also get sick over the liberal media's ad nauseam coverage of Ms. Sheehan's misadventures?
Contrary to Pitzen's opinions, several bipartisan committees, and many captured (recently translated) documents, defectors and other sources have established an irrefutable link between al Qaeda and Iraq. These connections include meetings, money, training and personnel that go back to the early 1990s.
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Osama bin Laden first met with Iraqi intelligence agents in 1994. In this meeting, bin Laden agreed to cease all terrorist activities against Saddam. In 1998, bin Laden was offered asylum in Iraq. Ansar-al-Islam (a terrorist group) was founded with help from Saddam and al Qaeda. Saddam agreed to give refuge and money to al Qaeda terrorists fleeing Afghanistan. Iraq provided training camps for al Qaeda starting in 1997. One of these camps included a Boeing 707 so they could practice hijackings. Abdul Yasin, one of the original 1993 World Trade Center bombers, fled to Iraq. Saddam provided him with a home and a monthly salary.
Following the defeat of the Taliban almost two dozen operatives established a base in Iraq. Abu al Zarquawi was wounded in Afghanistan and received treatment in Iraq. As we all know, he stayed in Iraq and is still killing Americans. While no known connection exists between Iraq and 9/11, there are scores of other direct connections between al Qaeda and Iraq.
Dan Wagner
Park Rapids
