Is Condoleezza fibbing?

It is now common knowledge that the U.S. and Iran were allies in the Afghanistan war to oust the Taliban as both supported the Northern Alliance. Could the Bush White House have blown an opportunity for peaceful relations with Iran? Or has the White House always been itching for a fight?

Powell tried to push Iran talks in 2003 and was rebuffed, former official says

Filed by Brian Beutler, RAW STORY

Former Bush National Security Council official also says Rice likely lied about not seeing document

Former Bush National Security Council official Flynt Leverett, speaking on Wednesday at a forum held by the New America Foundation, told a crowd in a Senate office building that in 2003 then-Secretary of State Colin Powell received a “grand bargain” offer from Iran and was rebuffed by the White House, RAW STORY can reveal.

“I know as a fact from multiple sources this went all the way up to Secretary Powell,” Leverett said, citing multiple sources at the State Department and the NSC. “In [Secretary Powell’s] words, he ‘couldn’t sell it at the White House.’”

Leverett said the letter was also delivered to the National Security Council. Rice told Congress last week that she'd never seen it.

“The document went over to the NSC” and “it is unthinkable” that it wouldn’t have gone to then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Leverett asserted. “She owes Congress an apology for saying she had not seen the document.”

"The statements she is making before Congress are not true," Leverett added, noting that Rice almost certainly "knows" they aren't true.

The rest is here.