Bush's war justifier: Ignoring the reality

Compare these four pieces of news:
- Secretary of State Colin L. Powell conceded that despite his assertions to the United Nations last year, he had no "smoking gun" proof of a link between the government of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and terrorists of Al Qaeda. "I have not seen smoking-gun, concrete evidence about the connection," Mr. Powell said, in response to a question at a news conference. (January 24, 2004)
- Vice President Dick Cheney said Saddam Hussein had "long-established ties" with al Qaida. "He was a patron of terrorism," Cheney said of Hussein during a speech before The James Madison Institute, a conservative think-tank based in Florida. (June 15, 2004)
- The Commission investigative on the September 11 attacks said they have found no evidence that Saddam Hussein cooperated with al-Qaida terrorists to target the United States. The conclusion came in a report released by the bipartisan, independent commission. (June 16, 2004)
- President Bush is repeating his assertion that Saddam Hussein's Iraq had ties to terrorists -- even though the Nine-Eleven panel is casting doubt. In a speech to troops at MacDill Air Force base in Flordia, the president said Iraq "sheltered terrorist groups." (June 16, 2004)
I'm speechless. But what's new...