(1.) Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton are the only two democratic presidential candidates who never asserted categorically that Saddam Hussein had wmd post-1998, and who questioned that. The spectrum of notables beyond that includes a tri-partisan alliance featuring such respected central party heavyweight luminaries as Republican Ron Paul of Texas, Democratic Jim McDermott of Washington, and Socialist Bernie Sanders of Vermott.

Make of that what you will.

(2.) Fascist governments have a way of sliding into delusion and self-fulfilling corruption due to a preponderance of "yes-men." In his final days, Hitler reportedly asked about non-existant and long since defeated batallions.

The latest news-story coming from David Kay, and in a red-faced yelp I'll say I READ THIS STORY MONTHS AGO -- is that the scientists reassured Saddam Hussein about creating all types of things whilst taking the money and run. (There's another story that keeps repeating itself into the press as to what happened that's as plausible but would contradict that assertion.) Anyway, methinks it's reminiscent of government programs here in the states, actually.

I also would have a parallel going to Bush Administration, uncomfortable putting it here but maybe that bridge at the end of the last paragraph will unjar it... at times they appear to believe some of the words coming out of their goddamned mouths -- or maybe the situation is that they believe that if they say it with enough concentration it will materialize into truth.

(3) Bush Administration cannot be absolved of responsibility. (quick aside: I do not know whether the Clinton Administration can be absolved -- I'd have to look back.) They all said various things during the lead-up to the war that were demonstrably false.

The most famous case at this point in time -- "Wilson-Gate" I guess we can call it -- and what has been brushed aside as "sixteen little words": The very phrasing of that sentence, and the qualifier that George Tenet decided would allow it to stay in the SOTU speech... IS A TACIT ADMISSION OF GUILT.

(4) The critics demanded an "Adalai Stevenson Moment." Bush Administration sent out Colin Powell to the UN to manufacture an "Adalai Stevenson Moment". The American media clamored over it, declaring "Look at that Adalai Stevenson Moment!!" The foreign media looked at the presentation quizzically. A week later, Hans Blix called various claims into serious question. And thus ... went ... the ... "Adalai ... Stevenson ... Moment".