As a matter of fact, Al Qaida was known only after 911 attack. Many didn't hear it before then. Even for Syria president Assadt.
Quote, "A norwegian professor believes al-Qaida is a Pentagon-fiction:
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/article.jhtml?articleID=396241
Al Qaida exists where US intelligence dominate. Al Qaida in US when Bush need excuse to activate Mid-east war. That is 911 attack. Al Qaida is everywhere in Iraq now to bomb innocent civilians when US occupies Iraq. Strange to say, under the Saddam regime, there is no Al Qaida. Al Qaida seems only exist where the regime being controlled by US. So we see no Al qaida in Syria and Iran. No wonder Assad doubt it:
Syrias president questions the existence of al-Qaida:
May 26, 2003
«Syria Denies Existence of Al Qaeda»
«KUWAIT CITY (Talon News) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad revealed in a newspaper interview on Sunday that he does not believe there is a terrorist group called al Qaeda, the organization widely believed to be the perpetrators of the hijackings on September 11, 2001 as well as the recent attacks in Saudi Arabia and Morocco.»
«"Is there really an entity called al Qaeda? It was in Afghanistan, but is it there anymore?" Assad asked.»
«Assad speculated about the existence of al Qaeda and its notorious leader Usama bin Laden in a Kuwaiti newspaper called Al-Anba. »
«Nevertheless, questioning the existence of the al Qaeda terrorist network is very popular in Arab countries. Many people in these countries believe that the United States has hyperbolized the danger of al Qaeda as a means for portraying Muslims as violent and dangerous.»
http://www.gopusa.com/news/2003/may/0526_assad_denial.shtml