BBC: Iraq War Planned Before Bush Took Office

BBC's Newsnight program has leveled serious charges against the Bush administration. Based on testimony from one Falah Aljibury who claims to have attended them, the administration held secret meetings in California, Washington and the Middle East regarding the disposition of Iraq's oil prior to Bush being sworn in in 2001. In the meetings, two groups struggled for power: the oil companies, and the neoconservatives in the White House. The neoconservatives favored a selloff of Iraqi oil assets, while the oil industry, fearing a shutout from the Iraqi assets, wanted to keep Iraqi oil in state hands. Ultimately the oil industry won. If true, these are serious charges.