Dear FRONTLINE,

Dear Frontline,I liked many parts of your report on Cheney and the Iraq war, but disagreed with others. The reporting on the war in Afghanistan was enlightening, and I think the report did a good job describing the lack of intelligence behind the administration's claims that Iraq was behind Al Qaeda. What I disagreed with was the presentation of the intelligence on Iraq's WMD. If you read the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on Iraq you'll find that many of the CIA's Iraq analysts were willing to believe any report that said that Iraq not only had WMD left over from the Gulf War, but that it also had renewed its WMD and nuclear programs, and had a larger stockpile of weapons than before. They made vast assumptions on Iraq's WMD based upon basically nothing and used horrible intelligence to support their beliefs. For example, one piece of evidence U.S. intelligence used to claim that Iraq had renewed its nuclear program was that Iraq had rebuilt a building bombed by Clinton that had been used for the nuke program before the Gulf War. The CIA had no idea what was going on in the building, it just used the fact that a bombed building had been fixed. They also had a picture from an Iraqi newspaper that claimed to be of Saddam meeting with some of the country's nuclear scientists. The CIA couldn't identify a single scientist in the picture, but took this one photo as evidence that Saddam was taking personal interest in promoting the nuclear program. Your documentary gave the impression that all the WMD reporting was basically due to pressure from the administration.

Joel Wing
Berkeley, CA

FRONTLINE's editors respond:

Several CIA analysts agree with Joel's opinion on WMD intelligence; you can read their edited interview on the Web site, or read excerpts on the CIA and the 2002 National Intelligence Estimate in the "Observation and Analysis" section of the site.

Dear FRONTLINE,

To those whom wish to use their own mind,

Neo Conservative Questions

Who is to say that President Bush et al weren't simply acting on the best intelligence provided them?

Was it not reasonable that after September 11th threats aimed the US would need to be viewed through a different lens?

Is it not true that the world is a better place without Saddam Hussein in power?

My Questions

What is the first thing you should do if you don't have enough information?

Since when does circumstance justify expelling all methods of verification?

How much better off is our world when a President is allowed to sell us a war without sufficent evidence or reason, and thus incur as costs to our nation the heightened animosity of muslims, 90 Billion US dollars per year, and the lives 2500 American soliders and servicemen?

John Goulart
Kerman, CA

Dear FRONTLINE,

I really appreciated this program. Contrary to may of the viewers who posted and said that they were upset at the "biased" reporting, I was grateful for an unvarnished viewpoint behind the scenes. I left the show thinking that Bush was much less to blame than I had originally thought. In contrast to those who thought the show was a one-sided attack on the administration, I thought that it was a long overdue explanation of how this country could have gone to war in Iraq on such flimsy evidence. I did not think that the show portrayed Cheney, Rumsfeld, or others as evil or purposefully lying. I came away thinking that they were truly doing what they thought that they needed to do to protect the country and the constitution. Its just that they turned out to be wrong and may not have been as open to alternative views as they should have been. What the show explains is WHY they may not have been open to these competing viewpoints; and the "why" is completely reasonable: because they had been burned before on poor intelligence, they were trying to re-establish what they saw as the executive branch's rightful power, they didn't want another 911 to happen on their watch, staffers eager to please their superiors, members of the administration being loyal to their president, etc. Its truly a picture of a sort of "perfect storm" of circumstances that created this situation, not some devious plan to dupe the public, and that is what the show depicts.

A note to those who wanted to see something more "fair and balanced"... There is merit in trying to ascertain the truth, rather than simply giving equal time to both sides of an argument. Contrary to recent public sentiment, there is such a thing as objective truth, and there is such a thing as indisputable facts. Journalism today would be much better if journalist sought the truth rather than simply give two sides a platform to make their case. Frontline is a shining beacon in the current sea of misinformation and outright disinformation. If a man is seen beating up a deaf, mute, and blind nun, the news story should not be a battle between those who saw the man beat her up with their own eyes, and those who thought that the man was tough for having attacked her before she attacked him, yet that is how it would be reported on most current news programs. Thank God that Frontline is different and seeks truth rather than pointless balance.

Rob Stallings
Austin, TX

Dear FRONTLINE,

For me, the ugliest part of this story isn't the tank like drive of Cheney pulling America into a war (and soon possibly another), which he sees fit. What sickened me was the failure of anyone in the highest rankings of our government to stand up to him. The head of the CIA transforming from early leader to puppet. The National Security Advisor rubber stamping anything put in her face. Secretary of State Powell giving up independent thought to be a "team player". A large portion of Congress not even bothering to read the NIE on Iraq before voting for war. And a President who sat back and played such a small role in the whole affair that he's barely mentioned in the piece.

Overall, what a riveting and gut wrenching piece of journalism. This was (and continues to be) a story of quest for power that has been retread in the course of mankind as long as we've walked upright, and probably before. Tragically the cost of this particular struggle has been paid for with the lives of thousands of American troops and many fold many Iraqi civilians.

Tim Harmon
San Diego, Ca

Dear FRONTLINE,

George Tenet and General Colin Powell should come forward for the good of the government to speak the truth. If they feel that things were done that undermined or overstated their perspectives it would seem they would be patriotic enough to now voice their concerns, does it not?

Where are the views of the CIA Consul for George Tenet? Surely the information he was giving was conferred to him. Should there not be some accountability or culpability if he knowingly allowed misinformation to be sent to Congress and the American People? If what Congress looked at was somehow importantly differing than what was given to the public, should not someone have voiced concerns?

If this report is true, does it not show a failure of our safeguards in discerning the truth before we go to War? Does it not seem plausible that someone would come forward to voice the concerns? It seems implausible that VP Cheney could gather so much power, without high ranking officials throwing up red flags to other members of the press. Would not other politicians and high ranking officials publicly voice their concerns about such abuses of power? If this story is valid, would not public officials & others be stepping forward to do their duty? That has not happened. For this to happen, our media would be more suppressed than a a totalitarian government. If this is true, it would be on page one on every newspaper & news program in America. That hasn't happened! It just seems too implausible on face value.

Kelly Carter
Tulsa, OK

Dear FRONTLINE,

It would be a relief if we had only an "Axis of Evil," but we've got a whole circus of these clowns: Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rice, Libby, Pearle, Rove, and, of course, our "What ME Worry?", easily-misled president. That's just to name a few.

Where was the courage of Tenet and Powell? Where was the vaunted scholarship of Rice?

Gene Pollard
Seattle, WA

Dear FRONTLINE,

My view on the course of events was changed by your program. I have to entertain the conclusion that Cheney et al. really believed there were WMD's, that Bush might have said no if Tenet had laid bare the facts about the "slam dunk" facts. Could Tenet really have stopped this? I thought Powell knew how silly he looked at the UN saying those things. It all seems like such a perverse joke compared to my Evil power-mad view of the administration. Thank you very much.

Mark Buggy
Mountain View, CA

Dear FRONTLINE,

As an earlier message states, where was Frontline when this was all happening and we needed this information the most? Frontline was bolstering the Administration's case for war with its timely expose of Saddam's crimes - not that they didn't need to be exposed, it's just that the timing of that particular program was rather suspect.

Bonnie Kalmbach
Madison, WI

Dear FRONTLINE,

I wish to congratulate you because it's the first time I see such an elaborated presentation of the truth about the documents that were used to start the war in Iraq in the US media. I assume it takes a lot of courage to expose the lies of your own government. I admire you for it.

It's a shame that this kind of information wasn't around when all this began and that the American public was so naive to neglect what the rest of the world already knew, that the evidence of weapons of mass destruction were lies and that America needed a war to sustain its economy. I believe that's why Mr. Collin Powell went to the UN Security Council and made a mockery of it.

In my humble opinion I think that shows like this one should be all over the media, so that the American public takes more interest in who they choose to be their representatives to ensure that this type of situation doesn't happen again.

Jesus Sosa
Tijuana, Baja California

Dear FRONTLINE,

I just would like for you all to think of the service member serving in Iraq. The ones who have been severely injured. Who's life's have been changed forever. Ask youself what you thought when we went to war? Did you support it? Did you think twice about it? What did you do in support of or against the war in Iraq?

I say this, because as much as we like to blame the administration I think the amercan people, all 500 million of us, are equally responsible for not speaking up, allowing that 18 year old kid or 35 year old father to put it on the line for incomplete (read inaccurate) intelligence.

Everett williams
monterey, CA

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you for the presentation of "The Dark Side". It was truly informative and thought provoking in these troubling times. While many viewers are putting up emotional posts on the subject matter, it seems there is little discussion about the "why this was done?"

What was the administration goals if we did not believe that WMD's were a true threat to the U.S.?why take this risk? It is an attempt to gain power in the region? I believe there are some very important relationships between Iraq, Fundamentalists, Iran, Syria, Jordan and Saudia Arabia that are not being investigated deeply enough. Is it possible that we went to war to help protect Saudi Arabia from growing discontent in the region with their relationship with the U.S.?

The majority of the 9/11 terrorists (and Osama Bin Laden) were Saudis. I think it is very clear our relationship with Saudi Arabia is important, positive and open, but what was their relationship with Saddam Hussein? Was he a threat to them? Would the Royal family be able to sustain a war with another Arab Nation if it felt it needed too? and what of their relationship with Iran? I hope these are the questions you are asking today and that you will continue to openly report what you find.

Michael Winston

Dear FRONTLINE,

After watching the episode tonight not once but twice, I can't help but feel that we saw how a very small number of men have been able to maintain a very personal influence over the foreign policy of several administrations over the last 30 years. Somewhere in all of the meetings and closed door sit-downs a tremendous amount of personal agenda and ideology has come to affect the entire world. Has it been worth it?

Anthony Evangelista
Calgary, Alberta

Dear FRONTLINE,

Thank you for another excellent piece of investigative journalism. An earlier post excoriates Frontline for only presenting one side of the story--he or she must have turned off their set before hearing the narrator announce that Dick Cheney and George Tenent both declined offers to be interviewed for the program.Please keep providing us with compelling documentaries.

Mary Ellen Satterfield
Los Angeles, California

Dear FRONTLINE,

I survived as a Lt. in the Viet Nam war, knowing it was a doomed effort. I watched as "Watergate" unfolded and was reassured that our system of checks and balances saved the day for democracy. Then, the Supreme Court appropriately checked the adminstration.I'm thoroughly discouraged that our Supreme Court and Congress are frightened to challenge an adminstration more dishonest than any in my lifetime, including the Nixon Adminstration.I'm most discouraged that the public has no sense of outrage by being duped by Bush/Cheney. I'm sorry that a distinguished American, Colin Powell was made a fool by Bush/Cheney.After 25 years of voting Republican, I cry out for an alternative to dishonest Republicans and weak Democrats.

larry olsen
prosser, wa.

Dear FRONTLINE,

This insightful piece of reporting is just what the mainstream media should have been reporting since the invasion of Iraq.

As a former military member, I cannot help but feel sorry for our troops and a majority of the American public who have been duped into believing that the invasion of Iraq was in any way related to the events of 9/11. What is so often overlooked is the cost of the 2,500 lives of Americans that have been sacrificed in Iraq in a police action based on faulty intelligence. This, along with the tens of thousands of Iraqi's killed since the inception of the war, I find it hard to believe that America or Iraq will ever be better off because of this senseless debacle. Despite all of the death, destruction and deciept, it amazes me the support that this administration still garners.

Ken Coleman
Portland, OR