Duelfer V. Duelfer

Here's what Charles Duelfer, head of the Iraq Survey Group and former deputy chief of UNSCOM, said before Congress on October 4, 2001:

If I may expand my remarks beyond Iraq's WMD capabilities, I would like to make a few observations drawing upon several years of experience in dealing with Iraq and senior Iraqi government officials.

The regime in Iraq sees itself at war with the United States. It is a military and economic war that is ongoing.

Now, here's what Charles Duelfer said in the final Iraq Survey Group report last month, on page 4 of its "Transmittal Message" and pages 31-32 of its "Regime Strategic Intent" section:

Saddam derived prestige from being an enemy of the United States. Conversely, it would have been equally prestigious for him to be an ally of the United States -- and regular entreaties were made, during the last decade to explore this alternative... [emphasis in original]

On multiple occasions very senior Iraqis close to the President made proposals through intermediaries (the author among others) for dialogue with Washington...

Saddam did not consider the United States a natural adversary, as he did Iran and Israel, and he hoped that Iraq might again enjoy improved relations with the United States... [emphasis in original]

In 2004, Charles Duelfer of ISG said that between 1994 and 1998, both he and UNSCOM Executive Chairman Rolf Ekeus were approached multiple times by senior Iraqis with the message that Baghdad wanted a dialogue with the United States, and that Iraq was in a position to be Washington's "best friend in the region bar none."

Huh. I wonder why Duelfer's take on the situation changed so much between 2001 and 2004. I wonder if some sort of event transpired during that period -- an event for which it could have been much more difficult to mobilize Americans if Duelfer had said this before the event? Well, some mysteries will never be solved.