I seriously doubt he was there without Saddam's blessings and support.
Saddam was active in all parts of Iraq. He was not flying in the north and south, but his secret police and army were active in all regions.
The question I find interesting is to ask why so few journalists will tell the truth, that Zarqawi is an AQ major figure, who has been in Iraq since before we invaded and fighting us since the beginning?
Why is he almost never referred to as an AQ terrorist?
Ed