ABC News is probably the most serious of the three major networks. They've begun analyzing recently released documents captured in Iraq, and there are some interesting findings.

An Iraqi intelligence service document saying that their Afghani informant, who's only identified by a number, told them that the Afghani Consul Ahmed Dahastani claimed the following in front of him:

That OBL and the Taliban are in contact with Iraq and that a group of Taliban and bin Laden group members visited Iraq.
That the U.S. has proof the Iraqi government and "bin Laden's group" agreed to cooperate to attack targets inside America.
That in case the Taliban and bin Laden's group turn out to be involved in "these destructive operations," the U.S. may strike Iraq and Afghanistan.
That the Afghani consul heard about the issue of Iraq's relationship with "bin Laden's group" while he was in Iran.

Any proof of collaboration between Iraq and al Qaeda would blow apart all conventional wisdom. Correctly, the ABC Editor's Note states that "the sourcing is questionable" and that "without further corroboration, this document is of limited evidentiary value." Perhaps CBS (if they even acknowledge existence of these documents) will conclude that it should be taken at face value since it has not been proven to be a forgery.

Correspondence regarding election campaigns in France. This includes a document from the Iraqi intelligence service classified as "secret," ordering the translation of important parts of a 1997 report about campaign financing laws in France. It also includes a document from the foreign minister's office indicating the report was attached. The attached translated report included very detailed information about all the regulations regarding financing of election campaigns in France.

Can you say "Oil-for-Food bribery?"

A letter from the Iraqi intelligence service to directors and managers advising them to follow certain procedures in case of a search by the U.N. team, including:

Removing correspondence with the atomic energy and military industry departments concerning the prohibited weapons (proposals, research, studies, catalogs, etc.).
Removing prohibited materials and equipment, including documents and catalogs and making sure to clear labs and storages of any traces of chemical or biological materials that were previously used or stored.

Again, the only liar on WMD was Saddam.

A number of correspondences to check rumors that some members of al Qaeda organization have entered Iraq. Three letters say this information cannot be confirmed. The letter on page seven, however, says that information coming from "a trustworthy source" indicates that subjects who are interested in dealing with al Qaeda are in Iraq and have several passports.

This does not prove a collaborative relationship, but it would seem to disprove the myth that al Qaeda was not present in Iraq until the war.

The documents released are a drop in the ocean of what's been captured. But it is good to see that at least one MSM outlet is spending time on the story. Let's see if the NY Times or others follow suit on what should be a major investigative opportunity. They expended lots of resources on the "story" of Augusta National's men-only policy. This story is slightly more significant.

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