Why We Went To War

In late 2005 (has it been that long already?), I did a brief post about an Iraqi defector code-named 'Curveball', whose information provided much of the basis for the administration's WMD claims. Apparently, according to the report at that time, German officials told the Bush administration that this man's claims were 'not proven' and that the administration not only used them anyway, but went on to exaggerate and distort them in speeches.

There are some updates on this story today... ABC's Brian Ross has uncovered a picture of 'Curveball' for the first time. More on this from the Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum and from blogger Andrew Sullivan. The latter states, "They did have it nailed. In the sense of: rigged. And Cheney must have taken particular pleasure in setting up his arch-rival, Powell, this way." And says the former, "They knew Saddam didn't have a nuclear program. They knew he didn't have mobile bio labs. They knew he didn't have drones. They knew."

Of course. But what is going to be done about that? Nothing, as usual.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

[PS- This article in Rolling Stone-- Leaving Iraq: The Grim Truth-- is a must read.]