Behind the State of the Union

Via Blah3, I found a great USA Today article. Like the editor at Blah3, I'm not at all a fan of this paper. I read it when I travel if it's the only thing available; and it's usually free at most hotels with lots of business travelers.

The article takes some key points from Shrubby's SOTU and then gives the reality, the context behind the points. There are no punches pulled, no candy coating.

Here's the opening salvo:

A reality check on what Bush said on key issues.
Weapons of mass destruction

What Bush said: Search teams have "identified dozens of weapons of mass destruction-related program activities" in Iraq. "Had we failed to act, the dictator's weapons of mass destruction programs would continue to this day."

Context: The Bush administration has struggled to explain why weapons hunters have found no chemical or biological weapons in Iraq in 10 months of searching. On the eve of the war, President Bush said there was "no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised." He said terrorist groups could acquire weapons from Iraq and use them against the United States. A search effort led by CIA appointee David Kay has turned up no weapons and no evidence of any advanced weapons program, raising questions about the quality of U.S. intelligence and the Bush administration's justification for war in Iraq.

I agree with Blah3's assessment: this is an example to place before your favorite SCLMW. Go check out both Blah3 and the article.