Posted by
Andrews on Monday, January 07, 2008 5:15:58 PM
I hate to do it, but I have to admit I was wrong.
Many on the left have said the president claimed Iraq was actively involved with Al Qaida, and I always said they were incorrect. "Where," I would ask, "did the president ever say that Al Qaida was actively involved with Iraq?"
Well, I stand corrected. There is an
indictment from a federal grand jury in New York which says precisely that. Presumably, the president knew, or even requested, that the federal prosecutors for the southern district of New York bring charges against Al Qaida and Iraq alleging these facts:
4. Al Qaeda also forged alliances with the National Islamic Front in
the Sudan and with the government of Iran and its associated terrorist
group Hezballah for the purpose of working together against their
perceived common enemies in the West, particularly the United States.
In addition, al Qaeda reached an understanding with the government of
Iraq that al Qaeda would not work against that government and that on
particular projects, specifically including weapons development, al
Qaeda would work cooperatively with the Government of Iraq.
So, I stand corrected, the president, or at least prosecutors representing the executive branch of the government did allege that Al Qaida and Iraq were working together. And so I find myself in an uncomfortable position, as I must admit that the liberals were correct.
Correct, that is, except for two little details: The indictment is from 1998, and the president was Bill Clinton. Otherwise, they are exactly right.