Bush pinpointed Iraq after 9/11, says Rice

WHITE House national security adviser Condoleezza Rice yesterday appeared to confirm allegations by former counterterrorism aide Richard Clarke and former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill that the administration was fixated on Iraq.

Ms Rice said the administration discussed "doing something against Iraq" after the September 11 attacks and drew up contingency plans, but decided against taking action and to stay focused on Afghanistan.

"There was a discussion of Iraq," Ms Rice told the commission investigating the September 11 attacks.