[mburbank]

Rice, Powell, and now Bush have over reacted to the criticism and made some classic political mistakes, or at very least gambels, in the last few days.

They have all asserted that not only was intelligence not abused in any way, it was accurate, and WMD WILL be found in Iraq. The only wiggle room they've left themselves is how long it may take.

Suppose we head into the election with nothing found but three totally clean trucks who's functions are now in dispute? Can a Bush running for office then say "Well, I meant WMD will be found historically, or perhaps archeologically."?

Opinion polls being what they are, they should have just sat tight and said nothing more than that they had and have faith in the intelligence they acted upon.