OK Ron,

Jan. 29, 2002- In Pres. George W. Bush's State of the Union speech, he identifies Iraq , along with Iran and North Korea , as an "axis of evil." He vows that the United States "will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons."

May 14, 2002- The UN Security Council revamps the 11-year-old sanctions against Iraq , introducing a new set of procedures for processing contracts for humanitarian supplies and equipment. At this time, the United States is preventing $5 billion of material from entering Iraq through "holds" by the sanctions committee.

Sept. 12, 2002- President Bush addresses the opening of the UN General Assembly, challenging the body to confront the "grave and gathering danger" of Iraq ­ — or become irrelevant.

Sept. 17, 2002- President Bush releases his administration's National Security Strategy, outlining a more militarized policy relying on first strikes. It says the United States will exploit its military and economic power to encourage "free and open societies." It emphasizes that the United States will never allow its military supremacy to be challenged, as it was during the Cold War.

Oct. 10, 2002- Congress adopts a joint resolution authorizing use of force against Iraq and gives the president authority to take pre-emptive, unilateral military action against Iraq , when and how he deems necessary.

Nov.7, 2002 - US Mid-Term elections

So almost one complete month before the elections, that worried GWB so much that prompt you to believe that he had to launch a "propaganda campaign" with regard to linking Iraq directly to 911, he had all the support and all the authority that he required.

The reference to "new evidence" that had come to light. This covers the differences between the known situation as of 16th September 2001 and 8th September 2002. From 28th October 2001 and well into the early summer of 2002 a series of reports of the alleged Atta/Al-Ani meeting appeared in the US media. Rumsfeld dismissed them in May 2002, the CIA and FBI were sceptical but still had the matter under investigation. What was Dick Cheney's take on it:
- He clearly indicates that it has not changed his mind, Iraq had nothing to do with the Al-Qaeda attacks of 911.
- Refers to Atta's apparent travel to Prague.
- Refers to reporting by others (i.e. non-US Agencies) that Atta was in Prague at the same time as Al-Ani. He later clearly states that these reports are unconfirmed.
- Draws attention to the fact that the matter is subject to debate.

By the bye, there is a six week gap that remains unaccounted for in the life of Atta, while supposedly in the US. The FBI doubt that Atta did go to Prague the April before the attacks. Their reason for coming to that conclusion rests on mobile phone records, cash/credit card transactions and car rental slips. The track record goes that subsequent to previous visits large sums of money were deposited in Atta's Florida account, $100,000 was credited to the account three days after the supposed meeting took place. The timing of the phone records, cash/credit card transactions would make it difficult (but not impossible) for Atta to have been in Prague at the alleged time. Records of calls made on a mobile phone only prove that the phone was used - it does not identify who used the phone. The same applies to cash/credit card transactions, particularly if they only cover cash dispenser withdrawals, the card has been used, it does not tell you who used it. Car rentals are equally anonymous, other people have rented cars on my behalf on hundreds of occasions, on a number of those occasions plans changed and the car was not used - but the record of the booking still stands.

Ron..."What did you say was the answer to the question about Bush and the faulty intelligence?    Which was it?--did he mislead the US public through incompetence or intentionally?"

President George W. Bush and members of his administration did not "sell", "push" or spin with regard to the information upon which he had to make his decision with regard to Iraq. Neither did Tony Blair, both leaders were given the joint assessments of their respective intelligence services based on the best information available at that time. It was on that information that decisions had to be made. Post 911 the option to contain Iraq was no longer tenable, sanctions could not be kept in place indefinitely and the evidence, available at the time indicated that those sanctions were being implemented more in the breach than in the observance. All indications were that Iraq under Saddam Hussein with sanctions removed and with all sixteen UN resolutions outstanding, would pose a threat. The President made the only decision he could, and it would not have mattered one jot who was sitting in the White House at the time, the decision would have been the same, because post-911, the person ultimately responsible for the safety and security of the United States of America, the person elected by the people of the United States of America to look after the best interests of the nation, just could not take that chance.