The War Decision :WP editorial

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The War Decision

Saturday, April 24, 2004; Page A20


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38199-2004Apr23.html


Yet there is much in this new account to reinforce the conclusion that the president and his administration prepared poorly for both the decision on invasion and the actual mission, thereby laying the groundwork for much that has subsequently gone wrong. By Mr. Woodward's account, the president -- who spoke to the author at length -- first approached Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld about drawing up an Iraq invasion plan on Nov. 21, 2001. In the following months he met repeatedly with senior military commanders and National Security Council members to discuss the evolving military plans. By February 2002, Mr. Bush was already discussing the best timing for an invasion with Gen. Tommy R. Franks, the eventual war commander.