Parsing Iraq and 9/11

I'm too busy to write anything today so Big Brother's filling in:

I don't understand why the mainstream media isn't making more of the letter President Bush sent to the the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate on March 18, 2003. After all the administration is saying that they never claimed that Iraq had anything to do with September 11. But the second clause to the letter Bush maintains that he has determined he is justified in going to war "acting pursuant to the Constitution and Public Law 107-243 is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001."

Now, there are bloggers who are talking about it. But for some reason, they act like this is questionable evidence, that the letter isn't quite making a justification of war based on retaliation for 9/11. For instance, Demagogue says that the use of the word "including" in the second clause was "cute, but it can scarcely be denied that Bush conveyed to Congress -- as the sole substantive justification for the war -- the notion that Iraq 'planned, authorized, committed, or aided' the 9/11 attacks. Otherwise, why include that phrase in a resolution, and a presidential determination, that were directed solely at the question of whether to invade Iraq? Plausible deniability is one thing, but the implication here is quite clear."

What's the problem? This is the letter the President sent to Congress justifying an invasion of Iraq. If September 11 had nothing to do with it then there is no reason for the second clause. And, as Iraq is a sovereign nation and not a terrorist organization, it must be included in the second part of the second clause. I don't see what's confusing about this at all. The administration is lying (big surprise!) Not only has Bush made an explicit claim that Iraq had anything to do with September 11, he made the claim in the letter sent to Congress on the eve of the War on Iraq!