Yahoo! News - Bush Began Iraq War Planning Months After 9/11
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Within months of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, President Bush was huddling secretly with advisers over Iraq war plans, according to a new book that may help fuel criticisms he was overeager for war.

The book, "Plan of Attack," by Washington Post assistant managing editor Bob Woodward, also reports that Bush decided in early 2003 that U.N. arms inspections in Iraq were ineffective and an invasion was probably inevitable.

The Woodward book won't hit store shelves until next week. But the Post reported from it on Saturday and the White House has already confirmed a key revelation -- that Bush ordered Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in November 2001 to draw up a fresh war plan for Iraq.

"Let's get started on this," Bush told Rumsfeld, the Post said, quoting Bush's recollection.

The Post's report says Bush got his first detailed war plans five weeks later from the top commander of U.S. troops in the region, Gen. Tommy Franks, and told reporters afterward the two had discussed Afghanistan.

To further guard the secrecy, Bush funded the war preparations through funds earmarked for Afghanistan and old appropriations, the Post reported.

Lies AND theft. Good one George. The nation still in shock, and already your attention had wandered from Osama to Iraq, if it ever left Iraq in the first place.

Problem is half of America still doesn't care. They like war. It's a big "we're number 1!" game to them. Human suffering means nothing. They don't give a shit, as long as it's not them or their loved ones doing the dying. Makes me wish the Soviet Union was still around to keep our stupid asses in check.