U.S. Decision On Iraq Has Puzzling Past

Tom Spencer of Thinking it Through points to a "terrifying story by Glenn Kessler in the Washington Post this morning."

Spencer continues, "This story tracks how W and the boys made the decision on Iraq without contacting anyone with any apparent expertise at all.

"They also apparently don't give a damn that Middle East experts, the governments of most other countries, and even an overwhelming majority of the American people (two-thirds consistently) oppose a unilateral invasion without U.N. support (which is clearly how they're going to have to do it now).

"I have believed in the past that the descriptions of W as governing like a 'dictator' were out of bounds but, after reading this story, I'm not so sure they are any more."

Still, the Washington Post story doesn't provide much of any new information. It merely elaborates on the messy, irresponsible march to war and confirms what has long been known: "the decision to confront Iraq was in many ways a victory for a small group of conservatives who, at the start of the administration, found themselves outnumbered by more moderate voices in the military and the foreign policy bureaucracy. Their tough line on Iraq before Sept. 11, 2001, was embraced quickly by President Bush and Vice President Cheney after the attacks."