NOW EVEN PAUL O’NEILL IS SAYING IT:

He described the reaction to Suskind’s book as a “red meat frenzy” and said people should read his comments in context, particularly about the Iraq war.

“People are trying to say that I said the president was planning war in Iraq early in the administration. Actually there was a continuation of work that had been going on in the Clinton administration with the notion that there needed to be a regime change in Iraq.”

Indeed.

UPDATE: John Cole wonders if O’Neill is another Rove operative tasked with embarrassing gullible Democrats.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Becky Bacon sees wheels within wheels:

I think that O’Neill is tasked with elevating gullible Democrats alright! But rather than Bush-bashing, this seems an attempt to elevate the Clintons. “They” are getting you to spread the fiction that Clinton was diligently working behind the scenes to prevent terrorism. I think this quote makes my point, “Actually, it was a continuation of work that was going on in the Clinton administration”. Yeah, like Bill and Hill would have done what GW did…if only they’d had the chance.

I think you’ve been suckered!

The truth is out there!

YET ANOTHER UPDATE: Great summary of the whole O’Neill flap:

This pattern of saying something, being surprised by the reaction, and wanting to take it back is why he got fired in the first place.

Heh. Indeed.