Absolutely fascinating article on how a little-known policy group (boasting some of the most prominent names in Bush’s coterie) has been pushing for war on Iraq for years and years. This article is an eye-opener from the opening sentences.

Sample:

An obscure, ominous-sounding right-wing policy group called Project for the New American Century, or PNAC – affiliated with Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rumsfeld’s top deputy Paul Wolfowitz and Bush’s brother Jeb – even urged then-President Clinton to invade Iraq back in January 1998.

“We urge you to… enunciate a new strategy that would secure the interests of the U.S. and our friends and allies around the world,” stated the letter to Clinton, signed by Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and others. “That strategy should aim, above all, at the removal of Saddam Hussein’s regime from power.”

The mission statement of this little group, PNAC, is downright prophetic:

“The history of the 20th century should have taught us that it is important to shape circumstances before crises emerge, and to meet threats before they become dire,” says the PNAC’s statement of principles. “The history of this century should have taught us to embrace the cause of American leadership.”

Read the whole article, then comb around over at this site for the full scoop on what PNAC is all about. (Be sure to check out the links in the right-hand sidebar.) This is really a bit of a revelation.

This is all thanks to a post from Orcinus, to whom all I can say is “Thank you.”