According to one AP article, “[a] full-blown investigation of Iraq intelligence failures would pose election-year risks for President Bush.” But seeing as the “Bush lied” argument carries with it very little substance, exactly why any failure to find WMD in Iraq falls on Bush’s shoulders is beyond me.
“No one could be certain where it would lead, who it would touch or what it would uncover,” the article continued.
Even so, I highly doubt a paper trail will be leading into the Oval Office. The president and the intelligence community operate within two entirely different spheres, and any attempts to blame President Bush for what he was told by American intelligence is absolutely beyond the pale; it’s an intelligence problem, nothing more.
Indeed, intelligence communities the world over agreed with our assessment of Saddam’s capabilities, and even former President Clinton is on record several times discussing Iraq’s questionable WMD activities.
One example: “When I left office, there was a substantial amount of biological and chemical material unaccounted for.”
Nonetheless, Bush’s political opponents are fighting for position in this election year. After all, it’s precisely the type of non-story that politicians love to exploit.