Amost six years after speechwriter David Frum coined the phrase “axis of evil” used by President Bush in his State of the Union address in January of 2002, and more than four years after Saddam Hussein was toppled — those inside the chain of decisions that led us to war are now speaking out. How did we arrive at the brink of war? What were the key influences? And ultimately, who is al Qaeda today?
Paul Wolfowitz-
EPA/MATTHEW CAVANAUGH
"Road to War: Iraq" reveals that the planning to potentially oust Saddam Hussein was initiated within the administration of President George W. Bush just a month after the attacks of 9/11.
Troika of pain
Monday, August 27, NGC premieres Road to War: Iraq at 9 p.m. ET/PT and Inside al Qaeda at 10 p.m. ET/PT. VIDEO PREVIEW
From the producers of Inside 9/11, "Road to War: Iraq" provides crystal clear reporting and behind-the-scenes insight into the decision making process that led to the invasion of Iraq, still occupied by American forces today.
It is hard to watch if you are set against this war, especially the scenes where the cautious Secretary of State Colin Powell is consistantly undermined by Paul Wolfowitz, the major architect of the war, VP Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
Included are original interviews from key players with insider knowledge of the internal debate within the U.S. government as well as intelligence regarding the threat posed by Iraq and its suspected link to al Qaeda.
Inside al Qaeda dissects the current state of the terrorist organization: how the movement has continued to evolve, its recruitment of homegrown and distant extremists, as well as its foothold around the world following the ongoing military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The show rips back the curtain on the internal reaction and disbelief to Vice President Cheney’s public claims that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction, as well the sharp divide between the Pentagon and the State Department regarding their differing assessments of an effective military force.
Road to War: Iraq also details the use of intelligence to help rationalize a public case for war by policymakers, including CIA director George Tenet, who called it a “slam dunk.”
“There were some tidbits of information that al Qaeda members or those affiliated with al Qaeda had been in Iraq,” said John Brennan, former CIA deputy director. “And I think those individuals within the administration who wanted to pursue an aggressive policy against Iraq were trying to make that connection.”
Road to War: Iraq features original interviews from key administration officials, among them Andrew H. Card, former White House chief of staff; Richard Armitage, former deputy secretary of state; Sen. Bob Graham, former D-Fla.; Richard Perle, former chairman, Defense Policy Board; David Frum, former presidential speechwriter; Lt. Gen. Mike DeLong, former deputy commander, United States Central Command; Gen. Victor Renuart, former director of operations, United States Central Command; Nick Calio, former assistant to the president for legislative affairs; and Mary Matalin, former counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney.
This is important programming you should make every effort to watch.
SAug 23rd, 2007 - 06:24:57
It's all moot. At this point even France has signed on.
Read a newspaper.
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