Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who did the Bush Administration consider to be a part of the war on terror besides al Qaeda?
Who did the Bush Administration consider to be a part of the war on terror besides al Qaeda?
What was the Bush Administration's approach towards planning for the war?
What was the Bush Administration's approach towards planning for the war?
Who does the narrator suggest was considered the most dangerous threat to the West?
Who does the narrator suggest was considered the most dangerous threat to the West?
What did the narrator imply about Saddam Hussein's possession of weapons?
What did the narrator imply about Saddam Hussein's possession of weapons?
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What does Kanan Makiya describe Iraq as, contrasting its past and present condition?
What does Kanan Makiya describe Iraq as, contrasting its past and present condition?
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What was a common hazard on the roads during the trip in Iraq?
What was a common hazard on the roads during the trip in Iraq?
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Who was considered the single most important source of intelligence on Saddam Hussein's Iraq by a top Pentagon adviser?
Who was considered the single most important source of intelligence on Saddam Hussein's Iraq by a top Pentagon adviser?
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What did Kanan Makiya focus on for over 10 years in relation to Saddam Hussein?
What did Kanan Makiya focus on for over 10 years in relation to Saddam Hussein?
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What was the central issue discussed at the meeting mentioned in the text?
What was the central issue discussed at the meeting mentioned in the text?
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Who was described as a 'modern liberal leader' with a background in mathematics and a commitment to secular democracy?
Who was described as a 'modern liberal leader' with a background in mathematics and a commitment to secular democracy?
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What event made going to war to remove Saddam Hussein politically feasible according to the text?
What event made going to war to remove Saddam Hussein politically feasible according to the text?
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Who did President Bush emphasize making 'no distinction' with in his speech after September 11th?
Who did President Bush emphasize making 'no distinction' with in his speech after September 11th?
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What did President Bush suggest about dealing with global terrorism after September 11th?
What did President Bush suggest about dealing with global terrorism after September 11th?
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'People say that there are two men responsible for the fall of Saddam Hussein.' Who did Kanan Makiya agree were these two men?
'People say that there are two men responsible for the fall of Saddam Hussein.' Who did Kanan Makiya agree were these two men?
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What did Kanan Makiya believe would happen if the US did not help the Iraqi people get rid of Saddam Hussein?
What did Kanan Makiya believe would happen if the US did not help the Iraqi people get rid of Saddam Hussein?
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Why was going to war against Saddam Hussein not considered politically feasible before September 11th, 2001?
Why was going to war against Saddam Hussein not considered politically feasible before September 11th, 2001?
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Why did Kanan Makiya initially decline to participate in the State Department's Future of Iraq Project?
Why did Kanan Makiya initially decline to participate in the State Department's Future of Iraq Project?
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Who among the Iraqi exiles expressed skepticism about the Future of Iraq Project and its usefulness?
Who among the Iraqi exiles expressed skepticism about the Future of Iraq Project and its usefulness?
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What was the primary focus of Kanan Makiya's initial reluctance to participate in the project?
What was the primary focus of Kanan Makiya's initial reluctance to participate in the project?
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Why were most Iraqi exiles enthusiastic about the Future of Iraq Project according to the text?
Why were most Iraqi exiles enthusiastic about the Future of Iraq Project according to the text?
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Why did Paul Wolfowitz seek out Kanan Makiya after one of his talks?
Why did Paul Wolfowitz seek out Kanan Makiya after one of his talks?
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What distinguished Kanan Makiya and Ahmad Chalabi's viewpoints regarding the Future of Iraq Project?
What distinguished Kanan Makiya and Ahmad Chalabi's viewpoints regarding the Future of Iraq Project?
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Which individual was known for making a case for ousting Saddam Hussein for over a decade?
Which individual was known for making a case for ousting Saddam Hussein for over a decade?
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What qualified individuals were involved in planning for post-war Iraq according to the text?
What qualified individuals were involved in planning for post-war Iraq according to the text?
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What was the attitude of most Iraqi exiles towards democracy post-Saddam Hussein according to the text?
What was the attitude of most Iraqi exiles towards democracy post-Saddam Hussein according to the text?
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Why did some Iraqi exiles, including Ahmad Chalabi, question the utility of certain seminars?
Why did some Iraqi exiles, including Ahmad Chalabi, question the utility of certain seminars?
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What was the primary purpose of the special intelligence office set up inside the Pentagon according to the text?
What was the primary purpose of the special intelligence office set up inside the Pentagon according to the text?
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According to Greg Thielmann, why was the special intelligence office set up considered mysterious?
According to Greg Thielmann, why was the special intelligence office set up considered mysterious?
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What did the Vice President continue to claim despite the FBI disproving it?
What did the Vice President continue to claim despite the FBI disproving it?
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What was the assessment of the Central Intelligence Agency's competence according to one individual in the text?
What was the assessment of the Central Intelligence Agency's competence according to one individual in the text?
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What did Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz direct Douglas Feith to do?
What did Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz direct Douglas Feith to do?
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Why did some individuals believe that links were found by the special intelligence office that others had not understood before?
Why did some individuals believe that links were found by the special intelligence office that others had not understood before?
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Why was it surprising that Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz directed the establishment of a special intelligence office?
Why was it surprising that Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz directed the establishment of a special intelligence office?
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What did Greg Thielmann find particularly unusual about how the work of the special intelligence office entered into policy discussions?
What did Greg Thielmann find particularly unusual about how the work of the special intelligence office entered into policy discussions?
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What did Thielmann reveal about the visibility of the special intelligence office within the intelligence community?
What did Thielmann reveal about the visibility of the special intelligence office within the intelligence community?
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What report caught the attention of the special intelligence office and was later passed on to the White House?
What report caught the attention of the special intelligence office and was later passed on to the White House?
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Why did some individuals believe that findings from the special intelligence office influenced policy decisions?
Why did some individuals believe that findings from the special intelligence office influenced policy decisions?
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What was the primary rationale for the American public for going to war in Iraq?
What was the primary rationale for the American public for going to war in Iraq?
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According to Kanan Makiya, what was a controversial proposal in his blueprint for democracy in Iraq?
According to Kanan Makiya, what was a controversial proposal in his blueprint for democracy in Iraq?
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Why did the State Department distance itself from Kanan Makiya's proposal?
Why did the State Department distance itself from Kanan Makiya's proposal?
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What was the State Department's objection to Makiya's proposal?
What was the State Department's objection to Makiya's proposal?
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Why did some oppose the idea of forming a provisional government composed of exiles?
Why did some oppose the idea of forming a provisional government composed of exiles?
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What did Kanan Makiya consider as a completely new idea that he proposed for Iraq?
What did Kanan Makiya consider as a completely new idea that he proposed for Iraq?
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Why did some argue against imposing a government from outside Iraq?
Why did some argue against imposing a government from outside Iraq?
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"...reducing Iraq to the opposition, reducing the opposition to the INC..." implies that some wanted what outcome?
"...reducing Iraq to the opposition, reducing the opposition to the INC..." implies that some wanted what outcome?
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"The United States government said, 'No, we will not recognize a government that is formed by the opposition which is outside the country.'" What does this statement imply?
"The United States government said, 'No, we will not recognize a government that is formed by the opposition which is outside the country.'" What does this statement imply?
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What was the most striking aspect of the dilapidation that the narrator observed in Baghdad?
What was the most striking aspect of the dilapidation that the narrator observed in Baghdad?
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What did the narrator initially think the Ba'ath Party represented?
What did the narrator initially think the Ba'ath Party represented?
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What was the impact of the post-war looting on Iraq's infrastructure and government institutions?
What was the impact of the post-war looting on Iraq's infrastructure and government institutions?
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What was the main reason for the long lines and shortages at gas stations in post-war Baghdad?
What was the main reason for the long lines and shortages at gas stations in post-war Baghdad?
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What was the main message that emerged from the political conference attended by General Garner and Iraqi leaders?
What was the main message that emerged from the political conference attended by General Garner and Iraqi leaders?
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What was the overall tone of the narrator's observations about the state of Baghdad after the war?
What was the overall tone of the narrator's observations about the state of Baghdad after the war?
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What was the main reason the U.S. military was unable to effectively address the widespread looting in Baghdad?
What was the main reason the U.S. military was unable to effectively address the widespread looting in Baghdad?
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What was the reaction of the Iraqi taxi driver whose car was crushed by U.S. soldiers for looting?
What was the reaction of the Iraqi taxi driver whose car was crushed by U.S. soldiers for looting?
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What was the main concern expressed by Kanan Makiya, who attended the political conference with General Garner?
What was the main concern expressed by Kanan Makiya, who attended the political conference with General Garner?
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What was the general's response when asked if the military could have done more to address the looting in Baghdad?
What was the general's response when asked if the military could have done more to address the looting in Baghdad?
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What was the genesis of the INC according to the passage?
What was the genesis of the INC according to the passage?
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What was the Clinton administration's primary concern with Chalabi's attempt to launch an Iraqi uprising?
What was the Clinton administration's primary concern with Chalabi's attempt to launch an Iraqi uprising?
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What happened after the events of the summer of 1996 regarding the U.S. strategy towards Iraq?
What happened after the events of the summer of 1996 regarding the U.S. strategy towards Iraq?
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What was the purpose of the Iraqi Liberation Act according to the passage?
What was the purpose of the Iraqi Liberation Act according to the passage?
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According to Dr. Bahali, what was the main reason the intelligence services believed Iraq had a weapons program?
According to Dr. Bahali, what was the main reason the intelligence services believed Iraq had a weapons program?
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What was Dr. Bahali's view on Iraq's ability to actually assemble a functional nuclear weapon?
What was Dr. Bahali's view on Iraq's ability to actually assemble a functional nuclear weapon?
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What was the primary focus of Dr. Bahali's current concerns regarding the nuclear facilities in Iraq?
What was the primary focus of Dr. Bahali's current concerns regarding the nuclear facilities in Iraq?
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What was the outcome of the CIA/Pentagon team's efforts to find evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, according to the passage?
What was the outcome of the CIA/Pentagon team's efforts to find evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, according to the passage?
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What was the reason given in the passage for why the U.S. military was not prepared to support Chalabi's attempted Iraqi uprising in the mid-1990s?
What was the reason given in the passage for why the U.S. military was not prepared to support Chalabi's attempted Iraqi uprising in the mid-1990s?
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What was the main reason the U.S. government provided support to the INC, according to the passage?
What was the main reason the U.S. government provided support to the INC, according to the passage?
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What was the primary reason given for not presenting certain evidence to the United States regarding Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
What was the primary reason given for not presenting certain evidence to the United States regarding Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
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What was the nature of the intelligence presented by the administration regarding Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
What was the nature of the intelligence presented by the administration regarding Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
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What term did the intelligence official use to describe the administration's approach to presenting intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
What term did the intelligence official use to describe the administration's approach to presenting intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
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What was the purpose of President Bush's speech in Cincinnati on October 7th, 2002?
What was the purpose of President Bush's speech in Cincinnati on October 7th, 2002?
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What was the source of the claim that Saddam Hussein had ordered his nuclear program to continue, as mentioned in President Bush's speech?
What was the source of the claim that Saddam Hussein had ordered his nuclear program to continue, as mentioned in President Bush's speech?
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According to Ahmad Chalabi, what evidence did he claim to have regarding links between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein?
According to Ahmad Chalabi, what evidence did he claim to have regarding links between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein?
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What was the status of the evidence presented by the administration regarding alleged links between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein?
What was the status of the evidence presented by the administration regarding alleged links between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein?
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According to the intelligence official quoted in the text, what was the administration's approach to handling the intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
According to the intelligence official quoted in the text, what was the administration's approach to handling the intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
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Based on the information provided in the text, what can be inferred about the intelligence community's assessment of the evidence regarding Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
Based on the information provided in the text, what can be inferred about the intelligence community's assessment of the evidence regarding Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
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What was the primary motivation behind the administration's presentation of intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
What was the primary motivation behind the administration's presentation of intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons programs?
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