On Thursday, in a background briefing, a senior White House official shared the administration’s views of recent developments in Iraq, the unpleasant surprises encountered after Baghdad fell, and the state of our intelligence before 9/11. To the disappointment, no doubt, of the White House press corps, the word “mistake” was not uttered, but it was a candid assessment nonetheless. The highlights from my notes:
‐This official is confident that there will be a responsible, stable Iraq. “It’s a long-term difficult project, but it’s the only reliable way to eventually make us really secure.” With one of those hijacked planes on 9/11 headed to the White House or the Capitol, the attempt was to “decapitate us.” The 9/11 attacks were an act of war and the appropriate response was to “decide that we must turn the world upside down.”