Bush Administration Misleads On Prospects In Iraq

In late July, a report prepared for the President by his National Intelligence Counsel spelled out "a dark assessment of prospects for Iraq." According to the New York Times, "the estimate outlines three possibilities for Iraq through the end of 2005, with the worst case being developments that could lead to civil war, the officials said. The most favorable outcome described is an Iraq whose stability would remain tenuous in political, economic and security terms."[2] But that didn't stop Bush and other members of the administration from telling the American people that Iraq was headed in the right direction. On August 5, President Bush said, "[Iraq is] on the path to lasting democracy and liberty." On August 24, Vice President Cheney told voters in Iowa that "We're moving in the right direction [in Iraq]." And this Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said Iraqis were "working at making a success out of that country...And I think they've got a darned good crack at making it."