To the Point

White House Credibility after Intelligence Blunder

Last week, the White House admitted a claim in President Bush-s State of the Union message was wrong. Over the weekend, CIA Director George Tenet said he was to blame. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice maintains the statement itself was not false because it referred to British intelligence, which still stands by the story. Such spin has not stopped the debate about how the President made the case for going to war in Iraq. How strong is the claim that the White House manipulated intelligence? How persuasive is the effort at damage control? We talk to a Senator who wants an investigation, and look the substance and the politics of the controversy with a global terrorism analyst, a crisis-management consultant, presidential historian, and former Nixon counsel John Dean. Making News: Iraqi Interim Council Convenes amid Skepticism There were more attacks on occupying forces in Baghdad today. One American soldier was killed when his convoy was attacked by rocket-propelled grenades. Meantime, Iraq-s new governing council completed its first full day by deciding to send a delegation to the United Nations. Charles Clover is in Baghdad for Britain-s Financial Times. Reporter's Notebook: President Bush-s Africa Policy As a candidate, George W. Bush played down Africa-s importance to American interests, but as President, he-s become more engaged in the affairs of that continent than any of his predecessors. Clarence Page, Washington columnist for the Chicago Tribune, looks at the possible consequences of last week-s five-nation expedition and its special significance for African Americans.