Al Qaeda and Oklahoma City

Richard Clarke's book has drawn attention to a controversy that has engaged many an internet fringe-dweller, as well as a few Washington insiders: Did the Oklahoma City bombing link up with a wider conspiracy involving Middle East terrorists?

The very concept is radioactive. Directly after the tragedy, unsubstantiated reports described the possible involvement of shadowy men from the Middle East. These amorphous reports seemed tinged with racism after the capture of home-grown reactionary terrorist Timothy McVeigh. Then we learned of a strange trip to the Philippines made by McVeigh's alleged co-conspirator Terry Nichols. One witness has indicated that Nichols met with members of the Al Qaeda-linked Islamic extremist group Abu Sayyaf.

Some neocons have seized upon this allegation to create a scenario in which McVeigh received orders from Iraq. I don't buy that idea. Still, we have every legitimate reason to wonder what the hell Nichols was doing in the Philippines. For a good overview of the controversy, check out this article in the Independent.