There was considerable discussion about this on FR at the time. As I recall, many of us, myself included (and you), could not understand why the administration didn’t counter the ‘Bush lied’ attacks. There was considerable circumstantial evidence available to the public at the time about a Syrian connection.
The administration had substantial knowledge judging by this article (Rove was aware...), although this lonely speechwriter was apparently clueless. Yet what do we have when the President’s political adviser asserts lone responsibility for not countering the disinformation? There surely had to be any number of others who had the President’s ear, who could have made the case. It just seems there’s more to this yet.
I have Rove’s book-—haven’t read it yet-—but I hear he admitted that this was his biggest mistake, in not countering these attacks. But think of some of the junk that other “speechwriters” have put out-—Frum-—or his press secretary (McClellan). These guys probably did have the president’s ear, gave him bad advice, then bailed.