The Truth Of The Matter

That remains to be seen. The Madrid bombings suggested that the Iraq war had inspired further terrorist attacks. And by the Administration's admission, al-Qaeda has taken root in Iraq and is targeting Americans, those who help them and innocent civilians. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has stopped saying the U.S. would rather fight terrorists in Iraq than in the U.S. While an Iraq free of Saddam Hussein is potentially a partner against terrorism, the disorder there hardly guarantees that outcome. And there is still no evidence that Saddam and al-Qaeda ever collaborated in attacking the U.S. Clarke told 60 Minutes that because of Bush, "Americans went to their death in Iraq thinking that they were avenging Sept. 11."

In the end, the drama produced by Clarke in Washington was not about the last terrorist attack against the U.S. but about the next one. Since it began its work in early 2003, the commission has uncovered huge failings in the national-security system, including how even a presidential order can be misunderstood down the chain of command. But these dangers got lost in a high-stakes political showdown. Unless Washington can focus on them, someone may risk having to ask forgiveness again. --With reporting by Timothy J. Burger and Mark Thompson/Washington