Bush lied. People died.

This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on May 31, 2003). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.

More and more information is coming to light exposing the extremely ugly truth that even while madly beating the drums of war, Bush and Blair administration members knew they were lying:

Jack Straw and his US counterpart, Colin Powell, privately expressed serious doubts about the quality of intelligence on Iraq’s banned weapons programme at the very time they were publicly trumpeting it to get UN support for a war on Iraq, the Guardian has learned.

The foreign secretary reportedly expressed concern that claims being made by Mr Blair and President Bush could not be proved. The problem, explained Mr Straw, was the lack of corroborative evidence to back up the claims.

Mr Powell shared the concern about intelligence assessments, especially those being presented by the Pentagon’s office of special plans set up by the US deputy defence secretary, Paul Wolfowitz.

Mr Powell told the foreign secretary he hoped the facts, when they came out, would not “explode in their faces”.

Sorry to dash your hopes, Mr. Powell, but I do believe that that is exactly what’s happening — as well it should.

(via Daily Kos and Tom Tomorrow)