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The documents the New York Times just authenticated

The Times unleashed 'Operation Al-Qaqaa II' yesterday, but there was teeny tiny hitch in its execution.

In their zeal to deliver a death blow to newly resurgent Republicans, they accidentally destroyed the central thesis for attacking the Bush administration for lo these many years. You know: that Bush lied, misled, deceived, and otherwise tortured the English language, thereby hypnotizing the Democrats into believing that Saddam Hussein was a threat.

Now the Times reveals that, why yes, Saddam Hussein's Iraq had a mature nuclear weapons program -- and documented links to global extremist terror groups -- all along! Whoops!

What follows is an illustrated guide to some of the documents that the Times has authenticated (and a huge hat tip to the indefatigable Captain Ed, who has tirelessly analyzed and organized the FMSO documents).

Starting in 1994 -- and lasting at least until 1997, but probably longer -- Saddam Hussein's Intelligence Services had multiple, direct contacts with Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda.

And, just four days after 9/11, Hussein's Intelligence personnel issued written warnings that their connections to Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda might be discovered by the U.S.!

In 2003, an Iraqi government memo testified that a convoy of fifty (50) tractor-trailers entered Syria just before the invasion. What cargo would have been shipped into Iraq just before the invasion (for which each driver was paid $200, a very generous sum in 2003 Iraqi terms)?

Also in 2003, another official memo describes where chemical weapons and delivery systems (missiles) were hidden to prevent their destruction in the invasion.

In 2002, Hussein's government was actively manufacturing the bioweapon ricin.

Also in 2002, Iraqi Intelligence Forces were actively engaged in the design of bioweapon delivery schemes, including the use of airplanes to spread toxic materials.

In 2001, Hussein ordered mass grave sites to be tested for radiation. What exactly about these graves would require testing for radiation?

In 2001, Hussein's government actively recruited suicide bombers to attack American interests either in the U.S. or abroad.

In 1999, Uday Hussein ordered a series of assassinations in London, Iran, and Iraq.

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And - there's more where those documents came from. The net result, though, is that the Times has confirmed several critical facts regarding Iraq: