On October 7, 2002, CIA Director George “Tenet sent a letter to Senator Bob Graham [D-FL], who was then chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Tenet laid out his evidence for a relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda:
‘*Our understanding of the relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda is evolving and is based on sources of varying reliability. Some of the information we have received comes from detainees, including some of high rank.
*We have solid reporting of senior level contacts between Iraq and al Qaeda going back a decade.
*Credible information indicated that Iraq and al Qaeda have discussed safe haven and reciprocal nonaggression.
*Since Operation Enduring Freedom, we have solid evidence of the presence in Iraq of al Qaeda members, including some that have been in Baghdad.
*We have credible reporting that al Qaeda leaders sought contacts in Iraq who could help them acquire WMD capabilities. The reporting also stated that Iraq has provided training to al Qaeda members in the areas of poisons and gases and making conventional bombs.
*Iraq’s increasing support to extremist Palestinians coupled with growing indications of relationship with al Qaeda suggest that Baghdad’s links to terrorists will increase, even absent U.S. military action.”
– Stephen F. Hayes, Cheney, Pages 386-387