POWELL'S NEXT

"Turn on the Disgruntlator!" Rove snarled. A few minutes later the first press reports appeared, and once again the New York Times led the charge...

"Another official, who like others declined to be identified because of the political sensitivity of their criticism, accused Powell of having a habit of distancing himself from policies when they go wrong, The Times said.

" 'It's such a soap opera with him,' the report quoted that official as saying. "

[More on "Plan of Attack" From the New York Times: "In addition "Plan of Attack" ratifies assertions made in two recent controversial books. It corroborates the observation made by the former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill (in Ron Suskind's book "The Price of Loyalty") that Iraq was high on the Bush administration's agenda before 9/11, in fact from its very first days in office. And echoing accusations made by the former counterterrorism czar Richard A. Clarke (in his book "Against All Enemies"), it contends that prior to 9/11 Mr. Bush was focusing on domestic issues and a large tax cut and had "largely ignored the terrorism problem.""

Do you reckon now the Bush Administration will reduce its ad hominem attacks? Naw, I don't think so either. --CSG]