re: Those sources
I'm wondering if you read most of your own links. It's kind of interesting that so much weight is put on one terrorist saying "no connection." When the same guy said there was one, did you believe him then? Why or why not?
By the way, it's important to remember that al Qaeda is not the only terror organization on the planet.
The Guardian article is from April. Since then, sovereignity has been turned over, the current leader is enjoying about a 60 percent approval rate, and Iraq's own forces are kicking insurgent ass, especially in Baghdad.