Bush Touts Qaeda-Saddam Ties by E-Mail, on Stump

FORT LEWIS, Wash. (Reuters) - President Bush is pressing ahead with charges of Iraqi ties to al Qaeda in campaign speeches and e-mails to key constituents, despite a government commission's finding of no collaboration.

In fact, the White House on Friday asserted support from the commission, which as part of its probe into the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks reported this week there was no evidence that ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda had developed a "collaborative relationship."

"9-11 Commission Staff Report Confirms Administration's Views of al Qaeda/Iraq Ties," a headline read in a White House e-mail to Jewish leaders on Friday.

Bush also used his first campaign swing since the commission's staff report was issued to repeat charges about high-level contacts between Iraq and al Qaeda.

http://news1.iwon.com/politics/article/id/410108|politics|06-18-2004::17:05|reuters.html

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