Meaning: The quote you provided is attributed to Douglas Feith, a former U.S. government official who served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from 2001 to 2005. The quote suggests a connection between Iraqi intelligence and al-Qaeda operatives, specifically in relation to training and combined operations involving bomb making, chemical, and biological weapons.

During the early 2000s, there was significant debate and controversy surrounding the potential links between the regime of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and terrorist organizations, particularly al-Qaeda. This debate was a key factor in the lead-up to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Feith's statement reflects the perspective held by some officials in the U.S. government at the time, which argued that there was cooperation between Iraqi intelligence and al-Qaeda. This viewpoint was used to justify the invasion of Iraq as part of the larger "war on terror" following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

However, it's important to note that the assertion of a direct operational link between Iraq and al-Qaeda has been widely disputed. Many analysts and critics of the Iraq War have argued that the evidence for such a connection was either tenuous or fabricated. The 9/11 Commission Report, for example, found no evidence of a collaborative operational relationship between Iraq and al-Qaeda in the planning or execution of the 9/11 attacks.

The quote also raises the issue of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), specifically chemical and biological weapons. The claim that Iraq possessed or was developing WMDs was a central argument used by the U.S. government to justify the invasion. However, after the invasion, no such weapons were found, leading to significant criticism and controversy.

In the years following the invasion, Douglas Feith and others involved in the decision-making process leading up to the Iraq War faced scrutiny and criticism for their role in presenting intelligence to support the existence of WMDs and links between Iraq and terrorist groups.

It's important to approach statements like the one attributed to Feith with critical thinking and an understanding of the context in which they were made. The events and decisions surrounding the Iraq War continue to be the subject of analysis, debate, and reflection, and they have had far-reaching consequences for the region and the world.

In conclusion, the quote you provided reflects a specific perspective on the relationship between Iraqi intelligence and al-Qaeda, as well as the issue of WMDs, during the lead-up to the Iraq War. It's part of a larger and complex historical narrative that continues to be studied and debated.