Link between Iraq and al Queda partially confirmed

Remember the recent 60 Minutes interview with Ahmed "0.2%" Chalabi? Remember how he showed Leslie Stahl a document purporting to prove a link between Iraq and al Queda?

Bill Gertz and Rowan Scarborough have a report on the document here (permalink not yet available):

We have obtained a document discovered in Iraq from the files of the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS). The report provides new evidence of links between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The 1993 document, in Arabic, bears the logo of the Iraqi intelligence agency and is labeled "top secret" on each of its 20 pages.

The report is a list of IIS agents who are described as "collaborators."

On page 14, the report states that among the collaborators is "the Saudi Osama bin Laden."

The document states that bin Laden is a "Saudi businessman and is in charge of the Saudi opposition in Afghanistan."

"And he is in good relationship with our section in Syria," the document states, under the signature "Jabar..."

A U.S. official said the document appears authentic.

Iraq · Tue, 03/23/2004 - 00:39 · · Importance: 1