Briefer on O'Neill. I do not think he is backing down. I think that he is just stating a fact when he claims that his statements about Bush in early 2001 and Iraq were overinterpreted. I even thought that before he said it. I write this because I think it is clearly true.

Aside from the question of truth, bitter partisan enemies of G W Bush (like me) would help the cause by being very nice to O'Neill. He is an angry man who has the goods on Bush. Guys you want him to stay more angry with Bush than with you. Calling him a coward is not only stating a falsehood it risks pissing him off.

[edited spellling]