In case you haven't read the paper, they've found documents and computer files and all sorts of stuff linked to Al Qaeda in countries around the world. Heck, they've found them in New York State. Not every country in which Al Qaeda operates has a government linked to Al Qaeda

From what I've read, you can't spit in Iraq without Sadaam knowing. It's your opinion, however, that hundreds of Ansar al-islam extremists are operating as a group in northen Iraq without his knowledge?

I think the Iraq-New York comparison is a stretch.