For some time now, we have been told that Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in order that he could execute his plan to invade Iraq.

A brilliant article from Robert Kagan appeared in today’s Washington Post. It concerns the role of reporter Judith Miller in a series of 2002-2003 articles in the New York Times which “strongly suggested Saddam Hussein already had or was acquiring an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction.” The New York Times, left-lib central, are a little embarrassed by the articles. They critique that she credulously reported information passed on by “a circle of Iraqi informants, defectors and exiles bent on ‘regime change’ in Iraq,” which was then “eagerly confirmed by United States officials convinced of the need to intervene in Iraq.” As Kagan reports: “Many critics outside the Times suggest that Miller’s eagerness to publish the Bush administration’s line was the primary reason Americans went to war. The Times itself is edging closer to this version of events.”

Eek! The New York Times is responsible for sending our troops to die in Iraq? Argh! If it weren’t for printing those damned Miller articles, 2000 American troops wouldn’t have needlessly died! So here is the order of events: the peaceful, restful era of the Clinton administration gives way to Bush The Hawk. Bush lies about weapons of mass destruction so he can invade Iraq and grab their oil. Reporter Judith Miller, in a freak mistake, gets her pro-Bush articles published in the New York Times. Bush sees the article and takes the opportunity of public support it presents him to hoodwink the international community and order Operation Shock And Awe.

Except for one thing: this narrative is entirely, completely, one-hundred percent, GARBAGE.

Before Bush even showed up in Washington, before he was even named as a possible candidate for President, during the peaceful, restful era of the Clinton administration - there were alarming stories in all sectors about Iraq’s weapons capabilities, and in one conspicuous paper of particular interest: THE NEW YORK TIMES! “Iraq Has Network of Outside Help on Arms, Experts Say” (November 1998), “US Says Iraq Aided Production of Chemical Weapons in Sudan” (August 1998), “Iraq Suspected of Secret Germ War Effort” (February 2000), “Signs of Iraqi Arms Buildup Bedevil US Administration” (February 2000), “Flight Tests Show Iraq Has Resumed a Missile Program” (July 2000).

But surely by looking at the Times editorials from the period, it is clear that they didn’t regard Iraq as a real threat? “The world cannot leave Mr Hussein free to manufacture horrific germs and nerve gases and use them to terrorize neighboring countries.” Well yes, but what about military action? “Future military attacks may be required to diminish the arsenal again.” But shouldn’t we use dimplomacy instead? “[It is] hard to negotiate with a tyrant who has no intention of honoring his commitments and who sees nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as his country’s salvation.”

NO! The paper that poured reproach upon George W Bush for acting on such data? That epitome of pacifist influence? I, as a loyal reader of both the Guardian and the New York Times, was always given the impression that the first time the terms ‘Iraq’ and ‘WMDs’ were mentioned in the same sentence was through the lips of George W Bush, 43rd President of the United States! I have heard many times that he “lied”! Was I misinformed? Was this misrepresented to me? Was I…… LIED TO?

Of course the truth is that Iraq was believed to have been a problem by the intelligence community, by other countries, by the previous administration, by the United Nations, even by liberal journalists. As Kagan points out, “…the underlying rationale for the war was already in place when this administration arrived.” It highlights what I have said all along: the coalition of nations that went to Iraq acted on the best information they had at the time. The pathetic, infantile blame game now played by the Left will not change that fact - either Bush lied AND THEY DID TOO (?) - or Bush was doing what Clinton “quietly avoided” doing over the previous eight years in office, perhaps while he was busy ordering pizzas during his under-the-desk activites in the Oval Office (which he happens to have ‘lied’ about, incidentally).

Either way - the Left and the liberal mainstream press sure look like imbeciles through the lens of Kagan’s article. I can’t help but…. ahem…. I can’t help - ***muffled sniggering*** - I just…. ***deep, soulful belly laughs***

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***We apologise for the loss of service resulting from Wright’s inability to refrain himself from laughing his ass off. Oh - wait - hold on a second…. - yes, we now return to this Voice of Reason article.***

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He lied! Bu…. Bu….. BuHAhahahahaaa!!

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***Hmm, clearly we’ll have to leave it there, with our apologies. Currently Wright is soaking an old copy of the New York Times with the tears he is uncontrollably spilling in audacious laughter. Normal service will resume as soon as possible. Thank you for reading.***