181 A few hours after: Presidential Documents, April 24, 2003:
http://frwebgatel.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgiPWAISdocID = 0482
90177664+0+0+0 WAISaction = retrieve.
182 Bremer had strongly supported: L. Paul Bremer III, My Year in Iraq:
The Struggle to Build a Future of Hope (New York: Simon Schuster, 2006),
pp. 6-7.
184 In his book: Bremer describes seeing the Mukhabarat memo on
pp. 126-27 of My Year in Iraq.
185 Rumsfeld flew to Iraq: Vernon Loeb, Rumsfeld Pays Visit to Post
war Iraq; Defense Secretary Meets Commanders, Tells Troops 'You've Rescued a Nation,' The Washington Post, May 1, 2003, p. Al; author interviews
with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6 and 7, 2006.
186 I took : Author interviews with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6 and 7,
2006.
187 The Lincoln's crew: Karen DeYoung, Bush Proclaims Victory in
Iraq; Work on Terror Is Ongoing, President Says, The Washington Post, May
2, 2003, p. Al.
187 Giving the revised: Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6, 2006; Presidential Documents, May 1, 2003: http://frwebgate.access.gpo .gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2003_presidential_documents docid= pd05my03_txt-27.
CHAPTER 19
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with 14 knowledgeable sources, from interviews with General Garner, and from documents obtained by the author. Additionally, see Bremer's My Year in Iraq.
190 Jerry Bremer had just over two weeks: Bremer, My Year in Iraq, pp. 9-10.
190 After 1 p.m.: Presidential Documents, May 6, 2003: http://frweb gate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2003_presidential_docu ments docid=pd 12my03_txt-13.
190 Four days before: Bremer, My Year in Iraq, pp. 11-12 and 39.
193 The Coalition Provisional Authority's orders are archived at www .iraqcoalition.Org/regulations/index.html#Orders.
198 Rumsfeld later said: Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July
6, 2006.
199 I am the Iraqi government : Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 36.
202 Bremer recognized that the challenges: Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 3 7.
CHAPTER 20
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with seven knowledgeable sources, from interviews with General Garner, and from documents obtained by the author.
206 That same day: See Edmundo Conchas, Soldier Won't Forget Memorial Day, The San Antonio Express-News, April 21, 2004, p. 1H.
209 Occupation is an ugly word. : Scott Wilson, Bremer Adopts Firmer Tone for U.S. Occupation of Iraq, The Washington Post, May 26,2003, p.A13.
209 We found the weapons of mass destruction. Presidential Documents, May 29, 2003: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc
. cgi? dbname=2003_presidential_documents docid=pd02j n03_txt-19.
210 Unknown to the president: See Joby Warrick, Lacking Biolabs,
Trailers Carried Case for War; Administration Pushed Notion of Banned
Iraqi Weapons Despite Evidence to Contrary, The Washington Post, April 12,
2006, p. Al.
210 A day after Bush's remarks: Department of Defense news transcript, May 30, 2003: www.defenselink.mil/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?
TranscriptID=2685.
211 Bush flew to Qatar: Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 71.
CHAPTER 21
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with three knowledgeable sources, from interviews with General Garner, and from interviews with David Kay on October 26, 2004, and February 28, 2006. Documents obtained by the author provided additional detail.
218 On June 12, 2003: Walter Pincus, CIA Did Not Share Doubt on Iraq Data; Bush Used Report of Uranium Bid, The Washington Post, June 12, 2003, p. Al.
218 This ran contrary: Presidential Documents, January 28, 2003: http://frwebgate. access, gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc. cgi?dbname=2003_presi dential_documents docid=pd03fe03_txt-6.
219 A few weeks later: Joseph C. Wilson, What I Didn't Find in Africa, The New York Times, July 6, 2003, p. 9.
219 Eight days after that: Robert Novak, The Mission to Niger, Chicago Sun-Times, July 14, 2003, p. 31.
220 In 2006,1 asked Rumsfeld: Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6, 2006.
220 After their discussion: Department of Defense news transcript, June 18, 2003: www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2003/tr20030618-secdef 0282.html.
220 Afterward, Rumsfeld and Garner: Garner's meeting with Bush was described by Garner. Details were confirmed by Rumsfeld and another knowledgeable source. In an interview with the author's assistant on June 29, 2006, Malcolm MacPherson confirmed details of Garner's meeting with Darth Vader in Iraq.
224 Later, I asked: Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6, 2006.
CHAPTER 22
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with six knowledgeable sources and from interviews with David Kay.
228 On Sunday, June 22: Patrick E. Tyler, 2,000 at Rally Demand Islamic Supervision of Elections, The New York Times, June 22, 2003, p. 11.
229 Sistani refused: Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 165.
229 Bush appeared: Presidential Documents, July 2, 2003: http://frweb
gate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2003_presidential_docu
ments docid=pd07jy03_txt-18.
230 In Saddam's Iraq: The description of Iraqi television and the
so-called Lebanese cooking channel comes from the author's assistant's interview with a knowledgeable source.
230 At a White House press conference: Presidential Documents, May 25, 2006: http://frwebgate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgiPWAISdoc ID=42074832524+4+0+0 WAISaction=retrieve.
232 Knowing all we know now : Walter Pincus, White House Backs Off Claim on Iraqi Buy, The Washington Post, July 8, 2003, p. Al.
232 On Friday, July 11: Walter Pincus and Dana Milbank, Bush, Rice Blame CIA for Iraq Error; Tenet Accepts Responsibility for Clearing Statement
on Nuclear Aims in Jan. Speech, The Washington Post, July 12, 2003, p.Al.
232 His long statement: www.cia.gov/cia/public_affairs/press_release/
2003/pr07112003.html.
233 The next morning: Walter Pincus and Dana Milbank, Bush, Rice
Blame CIA for Iraq Error; Tenet Accepts Responsibility for Clearing Statement on Nuclear Aims in Jan. Speech, The Washington Post, July 12, 2003,
p.Al.
233 Eleven days after: White House news release: www.whitehouse
.gov/news/releases/2003/07/20030722-12.html.
234 In July 2003: Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Appointed Iraqi Council
Assumes Limited Role, The Washington Post, July 14, 2003, p. Al; Rajiv
Chandrasekaran, Tape Hails Hussein Sons as 'Martyrs'; Ex-President's
Bodyguard Captured; Council Chooses 9 Leaders, The Washington Post, July
30, 2003, p.Al.
239 Kay went to Congress: FDCH Political Transcripts, Senator John Warner's media availability with David Kay, July 31, 2003.
CHAPTER 23
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with nine knowledgeable sources, from interviews with David Kay, and from an interview with Newt Gingrich on December 12, 2004.
240 Al Kamen's popular: Al Kamen, Now Playing: The Replacements, The Washington Post, July 9, 2003, p. A25.
244 In the summer doldrums: Glenn Kessler, State Dept. Changes
Seen if Bush Reelected; Powell and Armitage Intend to Step Down, The
Washington Post, August 4, 2003, p. Al.
245 In a brief session: Presidential Documents, August 6, 2003:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2003_presi
dential_documents docid=pdllau03_txt-7.
247 He flew: Presidential Documents, August 22, 2003: http:/
/frweb gate3.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=93122724065+0 +0+O WAISaction=retrieve.
247 He added in a radio address: Presidential Documents, August 23, 2003: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2003_ presidential_documents docid=pd01se03_txt-2.
248 Though no one: Documents reviewed by author; Government Accountability Office report, Rebuilding Iraq: Governance, Security, Reconstruction, and Financing Challenges, GAO-06-697T, April 25, 2006.
248 At a small dinner: Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 156.
248 David Kay had: See Dana Priest, Rumsfeld Is Muted on Weapons Hunt; Secretary Tries to Avoid Issue During Trip, The Washington Post, September 9, 2003, p. A12.
248 If there was: DOD transcript at www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/ 2003Ar20030908-secdef0656.html.
248 Bremer was making: L. Paul Bremer III, Iraq's Path to Sovereignty,
The Washington Post, September 8, 2003, p. A21.
249 Those people couldn't : Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 171.
249 On September 24: Bremer, My Year in Iraq, pp. 174-76.
CHAPTER 24
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with nine knowledgeable sources, and from interviews with David Kay and with General Pace on July 20, 2006.
256 In two interviews: Author interviews with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6 and 7, 2006.
258 A memo creating: David E. Sanger, White House to Overhaul Iraq and Afghan Missions, The New York Times, October 6, 2003, p. 1.
258 Bremer read the story: Bremer, My Year in Iraq, pp. 186-87.
258 At a news conference: Department of Defense transcript: www .defenselink.mil/Transcripts/Transcript.aspx?TranscriptID=3544; see also Mike Allen, Iraq Shake-up Skipped Rumsfeld; Confidential Memo Was First Alert, Defense Secretary Says, The Washington Post, October 8, 2003, p.AlO.
262 Afterward, Bush invited Bremer: See Robin Wright and Glenn Kessler, Rapport Between Bush, Bremer Grows, The Washington Post, November 23, 2003.
265 On November 7, Bremer: Bremer, My Year in Iraq, pp. 222-24.
265 Bush gave a luncheon speech: Presidential Documents, November 11,2003: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2003 _presidential_documents docid=pd 17no03_txt-12.
267 Later, Rumsfeld: Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6, 2006.
CHAPTER 25
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with 12 knowledgeable sources, from interviews with David Kay, and from an interview with Newt Gingrich on December 10, 2004. Documents reviewed by the author provided additional detail.
270 It worked: The meeting is described in Bremer's My Year in Iraq, at pp. 226-27. See also Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Iraqis Say U.S. to Cede Power by Summer; Town Meetings to Set Process in Motion, The Washington Post, November 15, 2003, p. Al; Susan Sachs, U.S. Is to Return Power to Iraqis as Early as June, The New York Times, November 15, 2003, p. 1.
273 On December 6, 2003: Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 245.
274 Rumsfeld later confirmed: Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6, 2006.
274 He gave an interview: John Barry and Evan Thomas, Dissent in the Bunker, Newsweek, December 15, 2003, p. 36.
274 Gingrich then went: NBC News transcript, Meet the Press, December
7, 2003.
275 For Rumsfeld: Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6,
2006.
275 On December 13: Rajiv Chandrasekaran, U.S. Forces Uncover Iraqi Ex-Leader Near Home Town; Detention Could Lead to Trial on Charges of War Crimes, Genocide, The Washington Post, December 15, 2003, p. Al.
275 Ladies and gentlemen : Text of L. Paul Bremer's news conference, Associated Press, December 14, 2003.
275 We've got to really : Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 260.
275 The violence continued: Documents reviewed by author; Government Accountability Office report, Rebuilding Iraq: Governance, Security, Reconstruction, and Financing Challenges, GAO-06-697T, April 25, 2006.
275 On January 16: Department of Defense News at: www.defendamer ica.mil/iraq/update/jan2004/iu012104.html.
275 Rice's frustrations with Rumsfeld: Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 7, 2006.
277 Classified reports: Documents reviewed by author; Government Accountability Office report, Rebuilding Iraq: Governance, Security, Reconstruction, and Financing Challenges, GAO-06-697T, April 25, 2006.
277 He referred not: Presidential Documents, January 20, 2004: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname = 2004_presi dential_documents docid=pd26ja04_txt-10.
277 That night a reporter: Tabassum Zakaria of Reuters, Top U.S. Arms
Hunter Resigns; David Kay, who led the search for Iraqi weapons, said he
now believed there were no stockpiles. An ex-U.N. inspector will take over,
The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 24, 2004, p. Al.
278 Kay testified publicly: FDCH Political Transcripts, Senate Armed
Services Committee hearing, January 28, 2004.
281 Powell went to The Washington Post: Glenn Kessler, Powell Says New Data May Have Affected War Decision, The Washington Post, February 3,2004, p. Al.
281 So Powell had to go back: Powell remarks at the State Department, February 3, 2004: www.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/remarks/28788 .htm.
CHAPTER 26
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with seven knowledgeable sources, with Judge Laurence H. Silberman on September 7, 2005, and from documents obtained by the author.
285 House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi: Dana Priest and Dana Mil-
bank, Intelligence Panel Will Cast Net Beyond Iraq, The Washington Post,
February 3,2004, p. Al.
286 It goes to the core : David M. Halbfinger, The 2004 Campaign:
The Massachusetts Senator; Gephardt Throws His Support to Kerry, The
New York Times, February 6, 2004, p. 19.
286 The president was not: Presidential Documents, February 6, 2004: http://frwebgate. access, gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc. cgi?dbname=2004_presi dential_documents docid=pd09fe04_txt-20.
286 The members of the Silberman-Robb Commission were: Judge Laurence H. Silberman, co-chairman; Charles S. Robb, co-chairman; Richard C. Levin; Senator John McCain; Henry S. Rowen; Walter B. Slocombe; Retired Admiral William O. Studeman; Charles M. Vest; and Judge Patricia Wald.
287 Representative Henry Waxman: Mark Matthews, Diverse Group to Examine War Data; Misinformation on banned weapons led to Iraq fight; 'Determined to figure out why,' The Baltimore Sun, February 7, 2004, p. 1A.
287 Senator Harry Reid: Eric Lichtblau, Panel's Finances Will Stay Private, The New York Times, February 15, 2004, p. 1.
288 Bremer had folded: Bremer, My Year in Iraq, p. 288.
291 Attacks had climbed again: Documents reviewed by the author; Government Accountability Office report, Rebuilding Iraq: Governance, Security, Reconstruction, and Financing Challenges, GAO-06-697T, April 25, 2006.
CHAPTER 27
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with six knowledgeable sources.
296 On Wednesday, March 31, 2004: Sewell Chan and Karl Vick, U.S.
Vows to Find Civilians' Killers; Marines Move to Seal Off Fallujah; Army
Steps Up Patrols in Baghdad, The Washington Post, April 2, 2004, p. Al.
297 We still face thugs : Presidential Documents, March 31, 2004:
http://frwebgate. access. gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2004_presi
dential_documents docid=pd05ap04_txt-9.
297 Bremer promised: Sewell Chan and Karl Vick, U.S. Vows to Find Civilians' Killers; Marines Move to Seal Off Fallujah; Army Steps Up Patrols in Baghdad, The Washington Post, April 2, 2004, p. Al.
297 Sanchez grew up poor: Sig Christenson, South Texan Has a Tall Order to Fill; Coalition's Commander Has Beaten Odds Before, San Antonio Express-News, June 23, 2003, p. 1A.
297 In
2006, Rumsfeld acknowledged: Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 7, 2006.
304 A year after Plan of Attack: Tenet spoke at a public forum at the Universal City Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California, on April 11, 2005.
CHAPTER 28
The information in this chapter comes primarily from background interviews with 10 knowledgeable sources, from an author interview with Judge Silberman, and from documents obtained by the author.
305 In late April: CBS News, 60 Minutes II, April 28, 2004.
305 Seymour Hersh: Seymour M. Hersh, Torture at Abu Ghraib, The New Yorker, May 10, 2004; Seymour M. Hersh, Chain of Command; How the Department of Defense Mishandled the Disaster at Abu Ghraib, The New Yorker, May 17, 2004; Seymour M. Hersh, The Gray Zone; How a Secret Pentagon Program Came to Abu Ghraib, The New Yorker, May 24, 2004.
305 Rumsfeld stated publicly: Department of Defense Transcripts, May 4, 2004: www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2004/tr20040504-secdefl 423 .html.
305 Myers, on one: ABC News transcripts, This Week with George Stephanopoulos, May 2, 2004.
305 Bush Privately Chides Rumsfeld : Robin Wright and Bradley Graham, Bush Privately Chides Rumsfeld; Officials Say Pentagon Resisted Repeated Calls for Prison Changes, The Washington Post, May 6, 2004, p. Al.
306 The next day, May 7: FDCH Political Transcripts, House Armed Ser
vices Committee Hearing, May 7, 2004.
306 The next day: Elisabeth Bumiller, In the Balance: Rumsfeld's Job, The New York Times, May 8, 2004, p. 1.
306 Just before noon: Presidential Documents, May 10, 2004: http:// frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2004_presidential_ documents docid=pd 17my04_txt-12.
306 I submitted my resignation : Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 6, 2006.
309 Rumsfeld said: Author interview with Secretary Rumsfeld, July 7,
2006.
310 In largely overlooked: FDCH Political Transcripts, House Armed
Services Committee Hearing, June 22, 2004.
313 Transfer of sovereignty: The early turnover and the conversation between Bush and Blair were described to the author's assistant in an interview with a knowledgeable source. See also Bremer, My Year in Iraq, pp. 388-95.
Bob Woodward Page 59