Bush: Twice Warned
LA TIMES: Prewar reports alerted the president to the difficulty of establishing democracy, among other assessments that proved accurate.

WASHINGTON — Two months before the invasion of Iraq, U.S. intelligence agencies twice warned the Bush administration that establishing a democracy there would prove difficult and that Al Qaeda would use political instability to increase its operations, according to a Senate report released Friday.

The report, issued by the Senate Intelligence Committee, brought to light once-classified warnings that accurately forecasted many of the military and political problems the Bush administration and Iraqi officials have faced since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. Bush was twice warned of Iraq challenges (more) By James Gerstenzang

Mark Alexander

Carter “disappointed” by Blair’s Failure to Use His Influence with Bush More Wisely
BBC: Former US President Jimmy Carter has criticised outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair for his "blind" support of the war in Iraq. Carter attacks Blair’s Iraq role (more)

BBC:
Blair makes surprise Iraq visit

Mark Alexander

No Music to Bush or Blair’s Ears
THE GUARDIAN: A retired British army general says Iraq's insurgents are justified in opposing the occupation, arguing that the US and its allies should "admit defeat" and leave Iraq before more soldiers are killed.

General Sir Michael Rose told the BBC's Newsnight programme: "It is the soldiers who have been telling me from the frontline that the war they have been fighting is a hopeless war, that they cannot possibly win it and the sooner we start talking politics and not military solutions, the sooner they will come home and their lives will be preserved." UK and US must admit defeat and leave Iraq, says British general (Read on)

Mark Alexander