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I don't think you'll see anytime soon this story presented by the administration, and certainly it hasn't been shown as proof in any intelligence briefings with Congress or other countries. The reason is that to do so would likely doom the Dem. party in the short term, though causing a bipartisan bloodbath. So if the Dems got a whiff that this was about to be revealed, you would here them scream about how the administration is reaching, remember Hearst and the Maine, and that Bush is trying to blame everything short of the Patriots Superbowl win on Iraq as an excuse to invade. Its their own only chance, to once again go to the muddy the water well. And I don't think the admin. could hold this secret and then suddenly reveal it on nat'l TV. Too many holdovers.

But we haven't heard that. My guess is that if this ever is officially confirmed, it will only be after Homeland Security has been up and running. I can see Bush using HS as a way to draw out of the intelligence agencies the most loyal and crucial employees, to keep some form of intelligence continuity as the FBI and CIA are purged. Make no mistake, with the gov't admitting that Iraqi involvement in OKC was squelched, an ugly, bloody purge of intelligence would be unavoidable. Which makes me suspect Bush will tread cautiously for awhile longer, unwilling to shoot more holes in an already leaky ship until a lifeboat can be assembled to be on standby. Might also explain why Tenet hasn't yet been handed his hand, given all that we now know from Gertz's book.

I don't have a strong gut feeling one way or another, but guess that when HS is on its feet, we'll get some direly needed reforms in other areas. Call me an optimist. But until the Dems are howling, I doubt the OKC connection is close to being officially recognized.