The question then to be considered is...Why does he never get slapped down when he is proven wrong?
I think the administration fed him a total line of bull. Considering the mess we have in Iraq right now...we have no great need to rush into Iran. This story smells totally bogus.
Because I've never been close enough to slap him, otherwise I'd do it :) Seriously, the only time I've seen him get slapped down was right after 9/11 when he tried to undermine the operation in Afghanistan and got called on it. It seemed like he laid low for a bit after that and waited until the country's post-9/11 anger had died down some to pop up again. I'm sure there are people who'd like to slap him down--my understanding is Rumsfeld dislikes him--but apparently whoever's pulling his strings has enough pull to keep him out there. Who that might be is a good question.