Epstein Secrets

the press by an administration already girded for combat. How depressing to look back on those days and see not just the obvious -- Douglas Feith, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice; those who promised America would be "greeted as liberators" (Cheney), and who threatened nuclear "mushroom clouds" (

onald Rumsfeld and his deputy Paul Wolfowitz suggested the war could be done on the cheap and that it would largely pay for itself. In October 2003, Rumsfeld told a press conference about President Bush's request for $21 billion for Iraq and Afghan reconstruction that "the $20 billion the president reque

received very encouraging economic news with the Dow closing a week ago Friday at 14,397.07 more than double of what it was four years ago. Also the Labor Department data showed 236,000 jobs were added in February. January's numbers were revised down, but the figures from December were increased. All told, month

, Bush belatedly moved to rein in his vice president, siding with Justice Department lawyers on surveillance issues; firing Cheney's dearest friend, Donald Rumsfeld, from his Pentagon job; letting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice win the argument over whether to bomb a Syrian nuclear reactor site (we didn't)

ened. After Iraq, there has been a weird amnesty and amnesia about people's misjudgment on the most consequential decision of our times.... Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Bremer, Rice, McCain, Abrams, and others including the pro-war press claque are still offering their judgments unfazed. One of my fathe

e his ego, so we can avoid war with the Mouse. This week the Dow closed Friday at 4,397.07 more than double of what it was four years ago. Also the Labor Department data showed 236,00o jobs were added in February. January's numbers were revised down, but the figures from December were increased. All told, monthl

estimating $200 billion for Iraq. but that was before a monumentally mismanaged occupation and a civil war. Back then, in 2002. Defense Secretary Donald Rtunsfeld thought $50 billion to $60 billion woukl do the job, but he asked people not to hold him to a hard number. For the record, the price tag pas

" he said, "what history decides." U.S. troops and their families, as well as the Iraqis dying every day. are more than Interested" in whether Mr. Rumsfeld and President Bush are making good decisions. The generals and Mr. Rumsfeld also continued the administration's soft retreat from taking full res

ate to a five-month high. July. dovm from 124,000 inJune — the But while Wall Street got what it latest in a string of mediocre job gains wanted — Labor Department data in recent months. showing slower job growth — cau- With companies wary of increas- tious investors pushed stocks mod- thew civ forces i un