Checkmate? - Over the past

Checkmate? - Over the past few days, word's come in that documentation linking Hussein to Al Quaeda has been found.

Papers found yesterday in the bombed headquarters of the Mukhabarat, Iraq's intelligence service, reveal that an al-Qa'eda envoy was invited clandestinely to Baghdad in March 1998.

The documents show that the purpose of the meeting was to establish a relationship between Baghdad and al-Qa'eda based on their mutual hatred of America and Saudi Arabia. The meeting apparently went so well that it was extended by a week and ended with arrangements being discussed for bin Laden to visit Baghdad.

Bit by bit, every single complaint of the anti-war left is being shut down; the Al Quaeda link (if finally confirmed) would be among the ultimate grounds - and it'd deal with the ultimate "toldyaso" the left was holding over the debate.

If this debate were (for most people) about the right or wrong of invading Iraq, it'd be very nearly settled; 12 years of violations of sanctions, duplicity with weapons inspectors, trying to kill former President Bush, and now a link to Al Qaeda (and, by inference possibly 9/11).

But, again, as we know, it's not about Iraq. It's about 2004.

(Via Andrew Sullivan)

Posted by Mitch at April 28, 2003 07:00 AM