“On January 30, 2002, the agency [CIA] issued an unclassified report to Congress containing the phrase ‘Baghdad may be attempting to acquire materials that could aid in reconstituting its nuclear-weapons program.’ Still, it was not highlighted and it was couched in very ambiguous-sounding language. Yet only a week or so later…as the item moved from intelligence professionals to the Bush inner circle, it made a Herculean leap in credibility. …Secretary of State Colin Powell declared, ‘With respect to the nuclear program, there is no doubt that the Iraqis are pursuing it.’ In fact there was every doubt. It was a reckless charge.”
– James Bamford, A Pretext for War, Pages 304-305