»9/11 commission: Iraq refused to work with Al-Qaeda«

Reporter: John Shovelan
TONY EASTLEY: US President George W. Bush isn't backing down on his claim of ties between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein despite an independent commission report that has found no "collaborative relationship."

Citing "numerous contacts" between al-Qaeda figures and Iraqi officials, President Bush said there was adequate proof.

From Washington, John Shovelan reports.

JOHN SHOVELAN: Despite the 9/11 Commission, the CIA and the FBI being in agreement on the conclusion that there was no "collaborative relationship", President Bush insists there was.

GEORGE BUSH: Oh the reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and al-Qaeda because there was a relationship between Iraq and al-Qaeda. This administration never said that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated between Saddam and al-Qaeda. We did say there were numerous contacts between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda.

JOHN SHOVELAN: But the report issued yesterday by the bipartisan commission investigating the 2001 terrorist attack on the United States, found that all evidence, including highly classified information it's seen, showed that despite these contacts, there was no tangible cooperation.

JOHN SHOVELAN: The 9/11 commission findings of no collaborative relationship not only challenges the administration but the view of most Americans who according to an April poll believe almost two to one that Iraq was supporting al-Qaeda.

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Iraqi Officer Tied to Al Qaeda - 9/11 Commissioner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks has been told "a very prominent member" of al Qaeda served as an officer in Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s militia, a panel member said on Sunday.


Republican commissioner John Lehman told NBC's "Meet the Press" program that the new intelligence, if proven true, buttresses claims by the Bush administration of ties between Iraq (news - web sites) and the militant network believed responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America.


"We are now in the process of getting this latest intelligence," Lehman said.


Commission Chairman Thomas Kean urged the administration to make any such information available to the panel quickly.

"Obviously, if there is any information (that) has to do with the subject of the report, we need it, and we need it pretty fast," Kean said on ABC's "This Week" program. "We'll ask for it and see."


He said the final report would be modified to take any new intelligence into account.


Lehman said the information, contained in "captured documents," was obtained after the commission report was written that stated there was no evidence of a "collaborative relationship" between Iraq and al Qaeda.


"Some of these documents indicate that (there was) at least one officer of Saddam's Fedayeen, a lieutenant colonel, who was a very prominent member of al Qaeda," Lehman said.


"That still has to be confirmed, but the vice president (Dick Cheney (news - web sites)) was right when he said that he may have things that we don't yet have," said Lehman, a former Navy secretary.


Cheney and President Bush (news - web sites) continued to insist that Iraq had ties to al Qaeda after the commission report issued last week found no evidence that Iraq collaborated with al Qaeda.