the possible al queda ties with iraq have been discussed repeatedly, ever since al queda claimed responsibility for the 9/11/01 attacks. the major reason we went into iraq was not that we thought iraq had WMD, the major reason was that iraq was corroberating with al queda. end of story. the reason that wasn't released to the public until after the fact is simple. you don't show your cards until everyone has made their bet. it's just common sense.