Innocent Mistake or Purposeful Lie?

In pointing out a couple of articles which report on the crystallizing link between Saddam Hussein and Al Queda, Catholic apologist extraordinaire Mark Shea wrongly notes that President Bush had initially refused to say that such a link existed. Of course, what President Bush refused to confirm was a link between Saddam and 9/11.

Being the admirer I am of Mr. Shea's writing and skills in apologetics, I normally would have dismissed his inaccurate observation as an innocent mistake. However, since columnist Juan "I'll jump to any conclusion that supports my left wing agenda" Williams of Fox News Sunday was called on the floor for making the exact same false accusation about President Bush, I'm left wondering whether Mr. Shea's comments weren't intentionally revisionist. Whatever the case might be, there's no shortage of people writing in Mr. Shea's comment boxes, including yours truly, to set him straight.