“In a four-page memo marked ‘Secret’ that he [Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld] sent to [Vice President Dick] Cheney, [National Security Adviser Condoleezza] Rice, and [Secretary of State Colin] Powell on the afternoon of July 27 [2001], the defense chief proposed meeting to discuss three options [for dealing with Iraq]: give up the no-fly zones and sanctions since they were no longer effective; approach ‘our moderate Arab friends’ to explore ‘a more robust policy’ aimed at toppling Saddam Hussein; or open a dialogue with Hussein to see if he was ready ‘to make some accommodation.’ Rumsfeld painted a picture of gathering danger. ‘Within a few years the U.S. will undoubtedly have to confront a Saddam armed with nuclear weapons,’ he wrote. While he did not suggest direct military action, Rumsfeld concluded that ‘if Saddam’s regime were ousted, we would have a much-improved position in the region and elsewhere.’ ”
– Peter Baker, Days of Fire, Page 109