Nick Smith, June 20, 2004

As a member of the International Relations Committee, I’ve questioned many Administration, military, and foreign officials about international terrorism in the Middle East. The 9/11 Commission report released on June 16 confirmed the Administration’s statements that there were long-standing relations between Iraq and al-Qaeda.

The connections between Iraq and al-Qaeda started at least a decade ago. We were told that Iraqi intelligence sent emissaries to Sudan during the 1990s to meet with Osama bin Laden, who was exiled there before making his way to Afghanistan. An Iraqi ambassador, Faruq Hijazi, also traveled to Afghanistan to meet with bin Laden in 2000. The Clinton Administration issued an indictment against Osama bin Laden in 1998 that alleged that the al-Qaeda head had reached an understanding with the Iraqi government. The agreement specified that al-Qaeda would refrain from attacking Iraqi government interests and that the two entities would cooperate on special projects. One such project involved development of weapons of mass destruction.

In 1999, three intelligence agencies concluded that Hussein offered asylum to bin Laden in Iraq. After the invasion of Afghanistan in 2002, close bin Laden associate Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi fled Afghanistan and received medical treatment for a badly wounded leg, which was eventually amputated. Al-Zarqawi has since achieved prominence as the man who beheaded American Nicholas Berg on videotape in May. Russian intelligence also warned the United States of potential Iraqi terrorist attacks in the United States that were allegedly being planned in 2002.

Other revelations concern weapons of mass destruction. The 9/11 Panel says al- Qaeda had an "ambitious" biological weapons program and "was making advances in its ability to produce anthrax prior to September 11." The report cites CIA Director George Tenet as saying that al-Qaeda's ability to conduct an anthrax attack is "one of the most immediate threats the United States is likely to face." Reports state that Iraq may have provided weapons and WMD training to al-Qaeda operatives. Iraq had a grounded jetliner north of Baghdad and appeared to be providing training in aircraft hijacking, though we don’t know if any al-Qaeda member received training there. We don’t know if al-Qaeda or other terrorist groups receiving training there.

Further, at least two links have been alleged that there was some Iraqi assistance provided to two of the 9/11 hijackers, whether or not Iraqi agents were aware of their mission. Czech intelligence has reported a meeting in Prague between the Iraqi agent al-Ani and 9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta shortly before 9/11. It also appears that Iraqi agent Ahmed Hikmat Shakir, who also was a leader in the Fedayeen Saddam in the aftermath of the U.S. invasion, met with Khalid al Mihdhar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. U.S authorities, including the 9/11 Commission, have not ruled out these reports.

Controversy will likely continue about exactly how close the ties between Iraq and al-Qaeda were. Releasing documents that coalition forces have captured in Iraq would help clarify this relationship. But there is little doubt - as officials from both the Clinton and Bush Administrations have asserted for almost a decade - that a relationship existed.

Congressman Nick Smith, a Republican, represents Michigan's 7th Congressional District, which includes Battle Creek and the counties of Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Calhoun, and Washtenaw in south-central Michigan.