I’m not a Yank, Steve, but I agree with the consensus here that General Powell was far more sinned against than sinning. I don’t believe he *knew* the intelligence upon which he based his decision was dishonest. Reliable? That’s different; any intelligence assessment can be both wildly unreliable and completely tru-blue honest at the same time.

As a well-trained, widely experienced combat veteran, he was singularly ill-prepared for American-style national and international politics. In Army World, everyone on your side is fighting the same enemy you are for the same reasons, and deliberately feeding duff gen to your chain of command is a mortal sin, if not treason.