Bush ordered 'contingency' plan for confronting Iraq during Afghan war

AP | 3/24/04

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush directed the Pentagon to develop plans to confront Iraq if it tried to exploit the U.S. military's engagement with Afghanistan in fall 2001, a White House official said Wednesday.

But spokesman Scott McClellan insisted the "contingency" plan was not a blueprint for a full-scale invasion of Iraq, as Bush's former counterterrorism chief contends in a new book.

"Obviously, it was important to have contingencies in place in case Iraq tried to take advantage of the president's military action in Afghanistan," McClellan said.

Moreover, Iraq had been firing for years at American pilots patroling the no-fly zone there, McClellan said.

But he stressed that the decision to invade Iraq a year ago "came much later."

Any suggestion that Bush was drawing up plans in 2001 for the Iraq war he launched in March 2003 is "revisionist history," McClellan said.

Clarke wrote in the book that Bush was preoccupied with Iraq before and after the attacks, at the expense of fighting al-Qaida. Bush asked him just after the Sept. 11 terror attacks to find out whether Iraq was involved in the suicide hijackings, Clarke wrote.

The White House has bristled at the suggestion that Bush planned to invade Iraq before March 2003 -- an accusation that former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, another administration official now critical of Bush, also made in a recent book.

[nopardons]

That's it, as far as I can tell, Tex. LOL

[COEXERJ145]

The government has always had contingency plans for dealing with attacks by Iraq, Iran, Canada, Mexico, Kiribati, and the Duchy of New Fenwick.

You should see all the Joint Army-Navy "Color" War Plans from the early 20th Century. They had a plan in the event of war with any country on the planet.

[nopardons]

Do a lady thing and just throw pillows. :-)

[Mo1]

So their argument now is that the President was thinking ahead about protecting our troops and our country in case Saddam attacked us?

Why how dare he do such a thing!!!!

[StarFan]

Damnit, I was on a high note after listening to GWB at the correspondent's dinner. I am sooooo glad this roller coaster day is almost over

[AnAmericanMother]

[cajungirl]

Don't cuss, call Gus, he'll cusss for all of us,,,remember that?

[McGavin999]

Gosh darned internet, a poor crook can't get away with anything anymore.

[Amelia]

The government has always had contingency plans for dealing with attacks by Iraq, Iran, Canada, Mexico, Kiribati, and the Duchy of New Fenwick.

And they'd be remiss if they didn't.

[Mo1]

Imagine what we could find is we had a subscription to LexisNexis.........LOL.

And don't think I haven't thought about signing up for that

These jerks are REALLY getting on my nerves

[Howlin]

LOL.....wonder how much it is......we could all chip in and some of you better researchers could use it!

[Texasforever]

If what Clarke has said in public, prior to his resignation is true, then he spent 2 hours committing perjury.

[cajungirl]

Batten the hatches, I think we are in for alot of days like this. but on a cheery note, Kerry is having his days. Did yall see where he went to Mass, arrived in ski pants and made alot of noise, took Communion and one of his staff said it was just for a photo op. The Catholics are up in arms. That did cheer me again. And the jacque strap thing gives me a chuckle at times. My advice,,,when in despair, when all seems hopeless, when we cannot stand another thing,,,close your eyes and think Of the jacque strap, it will make us better.

[mass55th]

You could always throw lamps or ashtrays like Hillary.

[nopardons]

That IS exactly what he did today. :-)

[Carolinamom]

What is the cost of a subscription to LexisNexis? Couldn't we all chip in and get one for all of us w/Howlin in charge of it?

[Howlin]

Not me. I'm the worst researcher on the internet. I could do it, but somebody else would have to use it!

[Luis Gonzalez]

"...then he spent 2 hours committing perjury."

He wasn't perjuring himself...it was about sex.

He was trying to f$%k Bush.

[nopardons]

Hillary threw that which did NLOT belong to her. I'm NOT about to break my expensive lamps and crustal ashtrays.Heck,I refuse to throw my antique brass ashtray!

Pillows don't break and none of us are aiming at Slick. :-)

[Mo1]

LOL.....wonder how much it is......we could all chip in and some of you better researchers could use it!

These are one of the reasons why I pay the bills in my house .. Mr. Mo1 never sees the bills and never asks questions .. *L*