In response to Bob Hahn 'Alternative universe'

Regarding the CIA informing Bush that Saddam had no WMDs or programs: Tyler Drumheller, a 26-year ex-senior officer with the CIA, said, “, the policy was set. The war in Iraq was coming. And they were looking for intelligence to fit into the policy, to justify the policy.”

The CIA had high-level, credible intelligence that Iraq “had no active weapons of mass destruction program.” He also noted, “…I think over time, people will look back on this and see this is going to be one of the great policy mistakes of all time.”

Last year Drumheller’s story was corroborated by two other former senior CIA officers. “Bush dismissed as worthless this information from the Iraqi foreign minister, a member of Saddam’s inner circle, although it turned out to be accurate in every detail.”

“Tenet told me he briefed the president personally,” said one of the former CIA officers. “The president had no interest in the intelligence.”

The other officer said, “Bush didn’t give a **** about the intelligence. He had his mind made up.”

Regarding “Slam Dunk” – Tenet says it referred to the ability to sell the war to the American public, not about the proof of WMDs.

The neo-cons urged Clinton to use force against Iraq in 1998 through a letter they published in the New York Times. Clinton wisely declined their advice.

Regarding WMDs, I directly quote President Bush from October 2004: “Iraq did not have the weapons that our intelligence believed were there.”

Regarding the “700 WMDs” found – This is a reference to lost munitions found buried in the sand, left over from the Iran-Iraq War, that were no longer viable weapons. The biological and chemical agents had long since turned inert.

That the US has not been attacked since 9/11 is a testament to police work, not the result of invading another country. Had even a tenth of what was spent in Iraq gone to international police work, we would be safer.

I wish I could address other points raised, but space is limited.

Jon Monday