The world is a complex place with lots of interrelationships. If you look very close you quickly find that any two groups are related in some way.

The issue isn't whether there is a relationship. The issue is the nature of the relationship.

For instance given the publicized Al Qaida - Iraq connections there were connections but probably not that serious of a connection. (Which is not to say there are no further connections not publicized or impossible to establish at the time)