[Steve_Seattle]

Towards the end of the full article, Steyn hits on the angle that's intrigued me from the start: the Wilson episode indicates that the CIA is either incompetent or actively working at cross-purposes with the president, or perhaps both.

[what's up]

actively working at cross-purposes with the president

This is the case....especially with the holdovers from the Carter administration and their ilk.

[ravingnutter]

the Wilson episode indicates that the CIA is either incompetent or actively working at cross-purposes with the president, or perhaps both.

Both...we know all about Tenet being a Clinton appointee and Wilson was a Bush-hater from the get-go...as for incompetance:

An unsigned CIA memo on Oct. 5 advised that "the CIA had reservations about the British reporting" on Iraq's alleged attempts in Niger, Hadley said. A second memo, sent on Oct. 6, elaborated on the CIA's doubts, describing "some weakness in the evidence," such as the fact that Iraq already had a large stock of uranium and probably wouldn't need more, Hadley said.

Source

But noooooo...the big story was that Bush lied that Iraq "sought" uranium, no mention of the fact that the CIA admitted he already had a large stock!