Two things come to mind: First is that Woodward is not giving us the whole story, and he never does. His access depends on his circumspectness, and he didn’t become a millionaire author who travels in the innermost of inner circles by violating the trust of the political hacks and criminals who use him for their own ends as he uses them for his.

Second, it’s easy to look at the dissenters as somehow noble, as voices of reason. Thus someone like O’Connor can come off as replete with rectitude. In reality – and this is what I’m glad you pointed out – O’Connor was the woman who put George Bush in office. George Tenet kept silent until he was out of government and his book was ready. Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill said nothing about what he knew while he was in government, as did Surgeon General Carmona.

I imagine that over the years we’ll see more Bush government officials stepping up and finally telling the parts of the truth they think will make them look wise and honorable. I imagine they hope they’ll have someone as friendly and trustworthy as Bob Woodward to help them with the PR. When I hear them tell their stories I will wonder what the truth really is. I see all of these people as failures who violated their vows of office and caused untold numbers of people incalculable harm.

Now, just in time to scare some wavering Repubicans back in line, we have the timely leak that al Qaeda is now back to full strength.

But this is hardly good news for Bush because it begs the question; what exactly has Bush been doing for the last 5 1/2 years since this is showing that no progress has been made. One would think that stay the course was the problem rather than the solution. So what does it take to get Bush off dead center and a new direction that might have a better chance of success — like agressive diplomacy. Oops, I forgot, that would take a Secretary of State that is diplomatic and competent.