Steady leadership in the face of contrary facts

That's all they have left, folks. Paul Bremer now admits there weren't enough troops on the ground in Iraq at the start of the war. The White House is spinning the case, saying Bremmer should have asked for more troops if he felt that way, and could not recall him doing so.

Maybe someone should send them here. From July of 2003 (via atrios):

The top American administrator in Iraq, confronting growing anti-U.S. anger and guerrilla-style attacks, is asking for more American troops and dozens of U.S. officials to help speed up the restoration of order and public services.

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld was reviewing the request from L. Paul Bremer, U.S. officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Bremer's request underscores how difficult it has been for his small civilian staff and some 158,000 U.S.-led troops to meet the demands of Iraqis for security and other basic needs. It also conflicts with upbeat public statements from President Bush, Rumsfeld and Bremer himself on the progress made on Iraq's political and economic reconstruction.

Matthew Yglesias over at TAPPED wonders why the Bush administration continues to hire so many liars.

Also yesterday, Donald Rumsfeld admitted he had seen no "hard evidence" of a link between Iraq and Al Qaeda, which flies in the face of statements he made in the past. Shortly after that glimpse of truth, Rumsfeld got back in line with his boss at the White House:

A question I answered today at an appearance before the Council on Foreign Relations regarding ties between al-Qaida and Iraq regrettably was misunderstood.

(snip)

Today at the council, I even noted that when I'm in Washington, I pull out a piece of paper and say: "I don't know, because I'm not in that business, but I'll tell you what the CIA thinks," and I read it.

I wonder if he's seen this yet (via Political Animal):

A new CIA assessment undercuts the White House's claim that Saddam Hussein maintained ties to al-Qaida, saying there's no conclusive evidence that the regime harbored Osama bin Laden associate Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

The CIA review, which U.S. officials said Monday was requested some months ago by Vice President Dick Cheney, is the latest assessment that calls into question one of President Bush's key justifications for last year's U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

The new assessment follows the independent Sept. 11 commission's finding that there was no "collaborative relationship" between the former Iraqi regime and bin Laden's terrorist network.

I was asked the other day if I felt the truth always won out in the end. I think I qualified my 'yes' answer with time constraints, that sometimes it is too late to do anything about it. It light of a Cheney/Edwards debate tonight, I think this one is right on time.