[plain talk]

If this is true then why isn’t CNN stating that this is proof Al Qaeda was in Iraq before the invasion? (sarcasm)

[piasa]

If this is true then why isn’t CNN stating that this is proof Al Qaeda was in Iraq before the invasion?

Though Zarqawi's own terrorist group was in the region before the US invasion and Krekar's Ansar al Islam was as well, and though Zarqawi had long standing ties to AQ and crew with same, Zarqawi didn't formally swear the oath to Bin Laden until well after the invasion of Iraq. If you are a liberal you can try to CYA by noting he wasn't "real" AQ until he swore the oath, I suppose.