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Powell denies saudis knew war before him Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp;:4084981e:f78d52351473b226?type=worldNews&locale=en_IN&storyID=4871148 http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp;:4084981e:f78d52351473b226?type=worldNews&locale=en_IN&storyID=4871148 20 Apr 2004 03:21 Powell denies Saudis knew Iraq war plan before him WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Who knew what, and when did they know it? U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Saudi ambassador to Washington Prince Bandar bin Sultan and journalist Bob Woodward argued on Monday over whether Bandar was told of the U.S. decision to go to war in Iraq two days before Powell was. Woodward sparked the controversy in his book "Plan of Attack" which said Powell was out of the loop when President George W. Bush made the decision to invade. The Washington Post journalist said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice-President Dick Cheney told Bandar of the decision in a meeting on Jan. 11, 2003, using phrases such as "you can take it to the bank" and "He (Saddam) is toast". "That's silly because I participated in the development of the plan," Powell responded on Monday on the Sean Hannity radio show. "I commented on the plan when it was being developed, and I knew when Vice President Cheney and Mr. Rumsfeld and General (Richard) Myers were going to go brief Prince Bandar on a plan, a plan that I was intimately familiar with," Powell said. But Woodward said on the CNN program "Larry King Live" that while Powell might have known of the plan, he was not told of the decision to implement it until after the Jan. 11 meeting with Bandar. Bandar himself called the CNN program to take issue with Woodward, saying Cheney and Rumsfeld had told him only that war was possible. "What he (Woodward) said is accurate. However there was one sentence that was left out," Bandar said. "Most of it was accurate except that I was informed that the president had not made a decision yet." After Bandar's phone call, Woodward commented: "Going back to Nixon, I've heard all of them... This goes in the hall of fame of dodges and fishy explanations, I think it should get an academy award ... Congratulations, Bandar." Powell, in his radio comments, also said he knew he would support a war if he failed to find a diplomatic solution at the United Nations. "I knew that it might happen, and I knew that when he (Bush) took that second road, I'd be with him for the whole way. I don't quit on long patrols," Powell said "I believe it was the right decision at the time (to go to war), and I believe it is the right decision now," he added. The book has fueled election-year claims of rifts in the administration and that Bush was eager to invade Iraq despite warnings over an occupation that has turned out to be far more deadly for U.S. troops than the war.

britons bush-appeals consequences inspections israel moran-accuses-jews preperation resolutions saddam-deal un-spying warplan 8 euro call for war { January 30 2003 } Americans like nuke Annihilate iraqi society { January 26 2003 } Anti us trade fair Arms civilians { February 5 2003 } Attack debated { August 1 2002 } Baby milk Blair blood price { September 5 2002 } Blair says no un veto Blair war regardless { January 26 2003 } Bush awaits blairs orders { March 7 2003 } Bush blair intent on war despite evidence or UN { March 18 2003 } Bush undettered by opposition { March 3 2003 } Casualties of undeclared war { December 22 2002 } Cheney assures { August 11 2002 } Cia kurds Cia wanted american flags for iraqs after war { October 20 2004 } Coalition has few partners { January 25 2003 } Dan rather interview East europe supports us { November 8 2002 } Germany supplied supergun { January 31 2003 } Hacked saddam email Hussein tactics { December 15 2002 } I26983 2003Feb04L [jpg] Iraq buys nerve antidote { November 12 2002 } Iraq civilians Iraq will gas kurds Iraqi amnesty Iraqi jails emptied Iraqi soldiers thought war started { March 9 2003 } Israel deals kuwait masks Kennedy accuses bush bribing turkey Kurds oust Kuwati attitude different { February 26 2003 } More missile range { November 15 2002 } Msnbc war and consequences N iraq kurdish { August 20 2002 } Negroponte no automatic war { November 8 2002 } No iraq alqaeda link { September 10 2002 } No nerve antidote Nuclear non capability { November 21 2002 } October surprise Opposition funding { February 4 2003 } Powell denies saudis knew war before him Powell says us alone Resolution pretext war Russia iraq ties { January 10 2003 } Saddam accepted exile offer before war Saddam bunker Saddam considers exile { January 14 2003 } Saddam hometown hero Saddam not want war Saddam time nuclear { May 4 2002 } Saddam will blame us { March 12 2003 } Six week war window Smart sanctions { July 2 2002 } Summer saddam Us war attacking iraqi defenses during inspections { July 20 2003 } War effects economy { July 30 2002 } Weapons dossier reveals corporations { December 7 2002 } With or without un { January 22 2003 } Yugoslavia arms ties { November 1 2002 } Files Listed: 62

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