by Larry C. Johnson (bio below)

[Also see my op-ed, “… And why it should never be done,” published in the LA Times on November 11, 2005.]

The inept attempt by President Bush to justify the pre-emptive war in Iraq depends on the misleading assertion that others, including foreign allies and Bill Clinton, believed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Let’s ask the more correct question–how many other countries and individuals believed that a pre-emptive war was justified and required? Answer–not many!


Scott Ritter was pretty damn consistent on this point. Few wanted to hear him. The UN weapons inspectors made the point that continued inspections could contain Saddam and reduce the threat. Guess what? They were right.


And the Intelligence Community? Despite some wrong assessments that Saddam had some chemical and nuclear programs hidden from us, they never–I repeat NEVER–told the President or any policymaker that an invasion of Iraq was needed in order to defeat what we now know was a bogus threat.


Don’t let the Bush spin machine get away with this nonsense.



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Larry C. Johnson is CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm that helps corporations and governments manage threats posed by terrorism and money laundering. Mr. Johnson, who worked previously with the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism (as a Deputy Director), is a recognized expert in the fields of terrorism, aviation security, crisis and risk management. Mr. Johnson has analyzed terrorist incidents for a variety of media including the Jim Lehrer News Hour, National Public Radio, ABC’s Nightline, NBC’s Today Show, the New York Times, CNN, Fox News, and the BBC. Mr. Johnson has authored several articles for publications, including Security Management Magazine, the New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. He has lectured on terrorism and aviation security around the world. Further bio details.


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Intelligence: The Human Factor (Securing Our Nation)
By Patrick Lang
Editor: Larry C. Johnson