[frogjerk]

I was talking with a colleague at my office and he being against the war in Iraq, was stating that al Qaeda in Iraq is not the same al Qaeda of Bin Laden. This seems like a lefty talking point to me. Do you have any links on the links?

Thanks,

frogjerk

[jveritas]

Al Qaeda in Iraq is the same as Al Qaeda of Bin Laden because Bin Laden said so and Zawahiri said so, they have said it in almost every speech they made since 2003.

In fact Zarqawi the first leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq was sent by Bin Laden to Iraq from Afghanistan in 2002 to establish Al Qaeda branch there. If your colleague does not think that Zarqawi was part of Bin Laden Al Qaeda, I have an Al Qaeda document which clearly states that Zarqawi was one of the Al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan.

Now ask your colleague what is his proof that Al Qaeda in Iraq is not Al Qaeda of Bin Laden despite that Bin Laden and Zawahir say so all the time and despite that Zaraqawi was sent by Bin Laden to establish Al Qaeda in Iraq.