Tom wrote:
"I'm sorry, but I have no idea where people got the idea that Ansar al-Islam, a terrorist group that largely occupied itself with killing Kurds, pro-American Kurdish leaders, and other enemies of the Iraqi regime had nothing in common with Saddam."

Because, um, you don't know much about Ansar Al Islam?

okay, here is the breakdown...

AAI is an Iranian cross-border network with ties to UBL , true.

They are actually predominantly ethnic Kurds

Nearly ALL of the so-called Baghdad-Al-Quaeda-Via-AAI connection boils down (on EVERY trail you follow) to the testimony of ONE man: Abu Iman al-Baghdadi. Abu is a scuzzbucket of 20-years standing with Iraqi secret police (or so he claims) and was a long term captive of PUK (You know, the secular Kurds). PUK is not the nicest bunch of people, by necessity! They have been the targets of Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran. They [PUK] have wanted America to invade Iraq for 20 years. It is in their interest to make the man they hold say what they want America to hear.

BTW, the LEADERS of AAI are Kurdish, not the ususal Saudi/Egyptian/Afghani Al-Queda types.

Now, the real funders of AAI are the Saria'ists of Iran. So here we go, lets break it down and see what seams reasonable.

AAI are predominantly Ethnic Kurds, Led by Ethnic Kurds- who have been the targets of slaughter by the Iraqi government.

AAI is FUNDED significantly by Iran, get smanpower by funneling people THROUGH Iran. Operates by fading back and forth between Iran and Iraq to raid Kurds.

AAI is a Taliban-like organization who HATES secularism to the core- be it secular Democracies or secular Autocracies.

So WHY ON EARTH would AAI cooperate with Saddam? Theyt have EVERYTHING to lose by doing so (Iranian support, Kurdish local tolerance/support). And ALL you have to suggest that they ARE in cohoots is ONE scuzz-bucket canary owned by the PUK who desperately wanted Saddam off their backs?

This is you Al-Qaeda connection? AAI may have al-Qaeda/taliban connection, for sure, but there is NO HARD EVIDENCE that they were working with Saddam, and EVERY RATIONAL REASON to be skeptical of a connection.

Read about it. Think it trough. Reason will land you in the neighborhood of the truth, and you aint there, Tom.

"This is like the fourth time I have seen this incredible "through the looking glass" interpretation of Ansar al-Islam as some kind of pro-Kurdish, anti-Saddam group"

Now read up on this and tell me who has the 'trough the looking glass' view on this issue?

Davin L.