JaTo, I disagree with your premise that Bush's handlers were interested in objectively determining the true state of affairs in Iraq and in sharing this information with Congress. Instead, there is substantial indication that the evidence gathering by the Bush Administration was results-oriented, i.e. bring in all the evidence that supports all out war - however flimsy this evidence is (are you familiar with Secret Agent "Curveball"?) and disregard and ignore all evidence which militates against it.
Clearly it was a major goal of the neo-cons and the Bush Adminstration to somehow justify a war against Iraq - even before September 11.
I don't think naysayers, skeptics or independent thinkers last long in the Bush Adminstration. Ask Christy Whitman.
