I'd *believe* Saddam's claim that he has no ties to Al Queda. Al Queda considers Saddam "apostate" and has said as much in the past. Saddam has never been a particularly religious man, except for when he's trying to convince other Moslem nations to unite against the Americans... that's one of the reasons the US funded his country in the first place! And Al Queda is led by FANATICS.