P resident Bush's decision to attack Iraq is the greatest mistake ever made by an American president. The Iraq operation is larger than the arms runs to the Contras, but it depends similarly on secretive governmental decisions for war, supported relatively by Congress when it is too late to change. The government decision gives no hint of shadow motives.
Deception goes to the heart of the decision and deception is dangerous to the republic.
He got nothing, but he sought much. So do all sovereign states that enter war. A revolting high-mindedness surrounds the decision. We say that Saddam is a demon, and we are angels. We see Iraq's shadow, but not our own shadow.