[DeltAlum]

With absolutely NO facts to back it up, I heard some time ago, and have believed, that President Bush Two has been out to get Sadaam, at any cost, since the apparantely documented attempt on President Bush One sponsored by Iraq.

On one hand, that's understandable, but not at the sums in men, material and treasur that the Iraq war has and is costing. When you're President, you have to put personal vendettas aside.

The myopic predestination toward war, along with the highly unsubstantiated partnership between Iraq and Al Qaeda were a fabrication if you believe Mr. Clarke.

Frankly, to me, the "proof" of WMD's that Secretary Powell (a man I greatly admire), took to the the UN was laughable. President Bush seemed hell bent to depose Sadaam no matter what he was told by advisors, etc. I have believed, and said it here in other threads, that the President lied to the American people to gain his own ends.

The demonstrations around the world of last year certainly sent a message that there was a huge lack of support for the overthrow of the Iraqi government -- even though no love was lost for it.

I also thought that the administration representative (name escapes me) on Sixty Minutes really seemed like a drone spouting the company line. Poor choice. Perhaps someone else might have been more convincing.

The fact that Clarke has worked for more Republican administrations (and for much longer) adds some credibility as well. It is possible that he has a huge ego and is trying to get retribution at Bush for "demoting" him, but you can generally sense if that's true from a person's language and demeanor. I didn't get that from the man.