President Bush and his administration are on the defensive. They’re on the defensive about the prison abuse scandal. They’re on the defensive about the economy, even though it’s improving. And they’re on the defensive about whether Iraq was involved in the attacks of Sept. 11.

When the Sept. 11 commission issued a staff report saying that there is no credible evidence that Iraq was involved in the terror attacks planned and carried out by al-Qaida, the administration immediately and forcefully responded.

To paraphrase the White House line: We never said Iraq was involved in the Sept. 11 attacks, only that there were links between al-Qaida and Iraq.

First, that claim isn’t true. The White House, and especially Vice President Dick Cheney, has explicitly tied Iraq and al-Qaida. At times, they’ve used carefully guarded words that allow them to deny, now, that they said Iraq attacked the United States, but the implications were clear. When the U.S. invaded Iraq, more than 50 percent of the public believed Iraq had been involved in the attack.

How do you suppose that happened?

It happened because the White House wanted it to happen.

We offer the following evidence, although there is much more. President Bush sent a letter to Congress dated March 18, 2003, outlining the legality of an attack on Iraq. Here’s the text:

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

Consistent with section 3(b) of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (Public Law 107-243), and based on information available to me, including that in the enclosed document, I determine that:

(1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic and other peaceful means alone will neither (A) adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq nor (B) likely lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq; and

(2) acting pursuant to the Constitution and Public Law 107-243 is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.

Sincerely,

GEORGE W. BUSH



Please note No. 2. It outlines one of two reasons for invading Iraq: Because the nation had planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11.

The evidence of Iraq’s complicity with al-Qaida has always been sketchy, but the Bush administration wanted to make the connection. Now, it’s stuck playing defense.