“In mid-March 2003, less than a week before the U.S. launched its attack [on Iraq], [Vice President Dick] Cheney sent a speech over to the CIA for review making all the old arguments that there was a ‘link [between Iraq and al Qaeda].’ [CIA Director George] Tenet tells us that he telephoned [President] Bush to say, ‘The vice president wants to make a speech about Iraq and al-Qa’ida that goes way beyond what the intelligence shows. We cannot support the speech, and it should not be given.’ ” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Thomas Powers, The Military Error, Page 106