This is Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawai speaking to NBC News Anchor Tom Brokaw, as carried on their evening news program Tuesday:

Allawi: We know that this is an extension to what has happened in New York. And — the war have been taken out to Iraq by the same terrorists. Saddam was a potential friend and partner and natural ally of terrorism.

Brokaw: Prime minister, I’m surprised that you would make the connection between 9/11 and the war in Iraq. The 9/11 commission in America says there is no evidence of a collaborative relationship between Saddam Hussein and those terrorists of al-Qaida.

Allawi: No. I believe very strongly that Saddam had relations with al-Qaida. And these relations started in Sudan. We know Saddam had relationships with a lot of terrorists and international terrorism. Now, whether he is directly connected to the September — atrocities or not, I can’t — vouch for this. But definitely I know he has connections with extremism and terrorists.

MSNBC.com sub-headed the story: New Iraq leader
believes deposed president had relationships with terrorists. Always didn’t express belief, however; he expressed, in his term, knowledge.

Brokaw is “surprised” that Allawi would differ from the conclusions of the 9-11 Commission? Brokaw is very confused. The 9-11 Commission is not, and cannot be, the last word on anything. It’s just a dinky commission set up by the U.S. government to study something way out of the realms of expertise of its various members. Prime Minister Allawi, though not living in Iraq, lived these matters for decades.

Of course the Iraqis are going to disagree with the 9-11 Commission. The commission’s conclusion was, admittedly and by necessity, incomplete.