The public was told that Saddam posed an imminent threat. If that claim was fraudulent, the selling of the war is arguably the worst scandal in American political history — worse than Watergate, worse than Iran-contra. Indeed, the idea that we were deceived into war makes many commentators so uncomfortable that they refuse to admit the possibility.
But here's the thought that should make those commentators really uncomfortable. Suppose that this administration did con us into war. And suppose that it is not held accountable for its deceptions, so Mr. Bush can fight what Mr. Hastings calls a "khaki election" next year. In that case, our political system has become utterly, and perhaps irrevocably, corrupted.  

When weighing the murky evidence of an aggressive tyranny's weapons, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair were obliged to take no chances. The burden on proof was on Saddam. By his contempt, he invited invasion; by its response, the coalition established the credibility of its resolve. There was no "intelligence hoax." 

A judge has ordered a Chicago man to stop telling stories, regardless of their truth, about his alleged relationship with a former Vermont beauty queen.

A remarkable 57 percent of suicide bombers have some education beyond high school, compared with just 15 percent of the population of comparable age.
The ultimate joke would be if civil liberties are sacrificed in the fight against terrorism, as a lack of civil liberties seems to be a main cause of terrorism around the world.

"During his European trip, Mr Bush had been subtlely but assuredly extending his doctrine of "you're with us or you're against us".
how does one do that, subtly? how does he do anything subtly?
" "If they don't sign up, they don't sign up. We'll move on," said one official."
The rhetoric is likely to infuriate many European powers. But US officials said any allied irritation would be shrugged off in Washington.

Alexander Downer denied yesterday there was any need to review the pre-war assessments that helped shape Australia's involvement in the conflict. "I think we are happy with the way our intelligence works," he said.

Chomsky said what America needed was "a kind of denazification".