[Envisioning]

1.) The existence of the weapons was not widely know among the insurgency. The administration wanted us to actively look for them but didn't want the insurgents to be looking for them as well.

This seems the most plausible to me. However, why is the NYT reporting this now? It's not to give GWB credibility.

1. Ebola distraction?

2. Early news dump for Obama's/Hillary's failures in Iraq?

3. Excuse to put boots on the ground, AGAIN, in Iraq?

4. All of the above?

[xzins]

I don’t think it will be an Ebola distraction. Ebola has a life of its own.

Your others points are definitely in the mix.

One other thought is that it might be an election ploy to take the focus off of Obama.