Woodward-a-Rama

The AP has snagged an exclusive with the new Bob Woodward book and Calvin Woodward and Shioban McDonough are dropping the bombshells. Here's more confirmation of what we've always known about BushCo's Excellent Iraqi Adventure.

Woodward's account fleshes out the degree to which some members of the administration, particularly Vice President Dick Cheney, were focused on Saddam Hussein from the onset of Bush's presidency and even after the terrorist attacks made the destruction of al-Qaeda the top priority. ''

The story doesn't gild the lily and they don't pull any punches as far as I can tell. The cold facts of BushCo's/Cheney's obsession with Iraq and how key members of the administration were out of the loop are daming enough on their own to a president who has said that he can't make good decisions if he isn't given good information. The revelation about the attempt to assassinate Saddam before the 48-hour deadline had been reached was particularly startling to me:

Franks was against it, saying it was unfair to move before a deadline announced to the other side, the book says. Rumsfeld and Rice favored the early strike, and Secretary of State Colin Powell learned that way.

(For the love of Pete, why hasn't Powell resigned?)

Also on the plus side, Mr. Woodward and Ms. McDonough don't give BushCo any cover with talk about rape rooms and mass graves, which is a relief. This is a straightforward preview of some of the most shocking aspects of Bob Woodward's book. I hope somebody picks up that what it reveals about the way this White House is minding the security of all Americans is in stark contrast to whatever they are trying to prove by stunts like announcing the possible creation of a National Intellligence Director. All the security people in the world aren't going to matter if they're locked out of the room.

Comments

[Dimmy Karras]

I'm wondering how the White House will try to assassinate Woodward's character. So far they seem to be acknowledging some of his account, though I'm sure in a few days they'll be spreading rumors he's gay or something.

[eRobin]

I know - I've been wondering that all day. I saw the McClellan briefing today and he was running down all the predictable WH misdirection - torture rooms, can't trust a madman, 9/11 changed everything... but nothing about how Woodward has always had it out for republican presidents or is addicted to crack, etc...