Data backing Iraq war called weak

House intelligence leaders say information was outdated

By Dana Priest
THE WASHINGTON POST

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 — Leaders of the House intelligence committee have criticized the U.S. intelligence community for using largely outdated, “circumstantial” and “fragmentary” information with “too many uncertainties” to conclude that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and ties to al Qaeda.

KEY QUOTES:

"The letter constitutes a significant criticism of the U.S. intelligence community from a source that does not take such matters lightly. The committee, like all congressional panels, is controlled by Republicans, and its chairman, Rep. Porter J. Goss (R-Fla.), is a former CIA agent and a longtime supporter of Tenet and the intelligence agencies."

"The administration based its argument for going to war on the dangers allegedly posed by Iraq’s chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs and its reported ties to al Qaeda. The Goss-Harman letter may give new ammunition to critics who say the administration overstated the threat posed by then-Iraqi President Saddam Hussein."

"Moreover, Goss and Harman dispelled the assertion, made frequently by administration officials, that they possess more concrete information about Iraq’s nuclear intention, but are unable to disclose it because it remains classified."

This, of course, is the "smoking gun" that proves the administration exaggerated the case for going to war. We ignored the will of the international community and engaged in a pre-emptive war based entirely upon weak and faulty intelligence. The damage this does to our global credibility is astonishing. We have basically proved to the world that our intelligence on terrorism sucks. Nothing we say can be believed.