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Looks like the aluminum tube controversy is gaining some traction. Or rather, some BIG traction.

In its lead editorial today, the New York Times discusses the controversy in detail, ending with, well...

Ms. Rice had access to all the reports debunking the tubes theory when she first talked about it publicly in September 2002. Yet last Sunday, Ms. Rice said that while she had been aware of a "dispute" about the tubes, she had not specifically known what it was about until after she had told the world that Saddam was building the bomb. Ms. Rice's spokesman, Sean McCormack, said it was not her job to question intelligence reports or "to referee disputes in the intelligence community." But even with that curious job disclaimer, it's no comfort to think that the national security adviser wouldn't have bothered to inform herself about such a major issue before speaking publicly. The national security adviser has no more important responsibility than making sure that the president gets the best advice on life-and-death issues like the war. If Ms. Rice did her job and told Mr. Bush how ludicrous the case was for an Iraqi nuclear program, then Mr. Bush terribly misled the public. If not, she should have resigned for allowing her boss to start a war on the basis of bad information and an incompetent analysis.

I don't know about you, but if the President's National Security Advisor doesn't think it's her job to "referee disputes in the intelligence community", that alone should be grounds for dismissal. But that aside, if she knew there was an ongoing dispute over the most critical piece of evidence in our case for war and didn't bother to find out what the controversy was over, well... what exactly did she think job description of "National Security Advisor" entails?

How exactly did one administration manage to get so many incompetent people at such a high level?

Oh.. right... something about a rotting fish and its head.

Anyhow, expect this story to get some serious legs now that the NYT has in effect called on Rice to resign.

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