President George W Bush has disputed findings by a commission
investigating the 9/11 attacks that there was no link between
al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.
Mr Bush said his administration never claimed Iraq helped co-ordinate
the 11 September attacks on the US, only that it had had contacts
with al-Qaeda.
[...]
In a report on its findings on al-Qaeda, published on Wednesday, the
commission said it had found no "credible evidence" that Iraq helped
the group carry out the 9/11 attacks.
The commission did acknowledge that a meeting had taken place between
al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and Iraqi intelligence officers
during the 1990s, but said there was no evidence it led to a working
relationship.
The comments contradicted remarks by Vice-President Dick Cheney about
Saddam Hussein's "long-established ties" with al-Qaeda - and cast
doubt on one of the Bush administration's justifications for invading
Iraq.
[...]
But President Bush remained adamant on Thursday that there had been
"numerous contacts" between Iraq and al-Qaeda.
investigating the 9/11 attacks that there was no link between
al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.
Mr Bush said his administration never claimed Iraq helped co-ordinate
the 11 September attacks on the US, only that it had had contacts
with al-Qaeda.
[...]
In a report on its findings on al-Qaeda, published on Wednesday, the
commission said it had found no "credible evidence" that Iraq helped
the group carry out the 9/11 attacks.
The commission did acknowledge that a meeting had taken place between
al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and Iraqi intelligence officers
during the 1990s, but said there was no evidence it led to a working
relationship.
The comments contradicted remarks by Vice-President Dick Cheney about
Saddam Hussein's "long-established ties" with al-Qaeda - and cast
doubt on one of the Bush administration's justifications for invading
Iraq.
[...]
But President Bush remained adamant on Thursday that there had been
"numerous contacts" between Iraq and al-Qaeda.