Rummy

Atrios has it posted, but I saw this last night and thought I'd add a link as well. Short Version:
Newly declassified documents show that the US was quite eager to assist Iraq in its war with Iran, despite evidence showing an almost daily use by Iraq of chemical weapons. Our general condemnation of chemical weapons use was strictly for public consumption, and our real position was that Iraq must not lose.

Excerpt: As a special envoy for the Reagan administration in 1984, Donald H. Rumsfeld, now the defense secretary, traveled to Iraq to persuade officials there that the United States was eager to improve ties with President Saddam Hussein despite his use of chemical weapons, newly declassified documents show.

Mr. Rumsfeld, who ran a pharmaceutical company at the time, was tapped by Secretary of State George P. Shultz to reinforce a message that a recent move to condemn Iraq's use of chemical weapons was strictly in principle and that America's priority was to prevent an Iranian victory in the Iran-Iraq war and to improve bilateral ties.

Rummy says he "doesn't remember" if he read or otherwise followed the instructions Secretary Shultz passed to him.

After all, he was traveling under the aegis of--oh wait, that's right, he was "just a private citizen" at the time. Surely he couldn't be expected to act as an agent of the United States' government, right?

If you believe the above, I'll give you a choice--Bridge in Brooklyn or Swampland in Florida--take your pick. Either one is a steal.

And don't you love how high level officials always conveniently get a case of amnesia when it comes to embarrassing disclosures?