Chapter 18 Summary and Analysis

On May 9, 2002, Woodward has dinner with Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) for the second time since 9/11. Due to Graham's connections to the Post, Woodward's employer, they talk on-the-record and for this book only. Graham is troubled about Iraq after briefings on the covert plan in Cheney's office. Graham believes Iraq will swamp the greater goal of pursuing the first-tier terrorists involved in 9/11 or harboring those involved. There is no evidence Saddam has done either. Most analyses put Iraq's WMD threat five years away, which merits close monitoring. Cheney glosses over terrorism and unites it with WMD in the nexus of Iraq. This is a new definition of the war on terrorism.

The CIA never declares categorically Saddam has WMD. The formal 2000 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) concludes he retains CW agents (not warheads) and is working towards BW, but has none. Iraq is...