“In December 2002, when the bulk of the troop deployment [in Iraq] was just beginning, the president [Bush] had rejected [Vice President Dick] Cheney’s argument that Iraq’s failure to accurately declare its weapons programs was reason enough to call off the inspections and set a firm invasion date. The force was not yet ready.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Karen DeYoung, Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell, Page 428