Liars, Inc.

But bigger liars than this story would tell you:

A CIA operative later told Dr. Alhaddad's husband that the agency believed her brother was lying. In all, the book says, some 30 family members of Iraqis made trips to their native country to contact Iraqi weapons scientists, and all of them reported that the programs had been abandoned.

In October 2002, a month after the doctor's trip to Baghdad, the U.S intelligence community issued a National Intelligence Estimate that concluded Iraq was reconstituting its nuclear program.

This would seem to give some cover to the Bush Administration, but it really doesn't. For example, this February 10, 2004 report from Knight-Ritter:

The public version of the U.S. intelligence community's key prewar assessment of Iraq's illicit arms programs was stripped of dissenting opinions, warnings of insufficient information and doubts about deposed dictator Saddam Hussein's intentions, a review of the document and its once-classified version shows.

As a result, the public was given a far more definitive assessment of Iraq's plans and capabilities than President Bush and other U.S. decision-makers received from their intelligence agencies.

If Stage II ever begins in the Senate (stay tuned for November 2006 election returns) we will find out how boldly the Administration cherry-picked and lied.

By the way, it has now been three months or so since Harry Ried closed down the Senate, I've heard nothing about how that investigation is coming. Pat Roberts seems to be stonewalling again.