A very significant piece of reporting from the Associated Press this morning. Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman report that Iran is allowing top al Qaeda leaders based in Iran to leave, “raising the prospect that Iran is loosening its grip on the terror group so it can replenish its ranks, former and current US intelligence officials say.”

Ironically, for most people who read this piece, including most reporters in Washington, the news will be that senior al Qaeda leaders were living in Iran. That shouldn’t be news. It’s been true since shortly after 9/11, when Iran aided al Qaeda fighters fleeing from Afghanistan and provided them safe haven.