White House Gave Zarqawi a Pass in Order to Get to Saddam?

At the Volokh Conspiracy, Jacob Levy points to a March 2004 NBC story alleging that the Bush Administration chose not to assassinate Abu Zarqawi because it was afraid of undermining its case for an Iraq invasion.

Levy wonders if the Bush Administration ever put forth a rebuttal to the charge.

I hadn't heard the charge before. I'd sure like to see a rebuttal.

If the story turns out to be true, I will certainly vote for John Kerry in November.