>That doesn't mean everyone involved here --- multiple departments of the US Government, the executive branch of the government at the very highest level, and s

>That doesn't mean everyone involved here --- multiple departments of the US Government, the executive branch of the government at the very highest level, and several of the largest security firms in the US --- couldn't be lying. It could all be a conspiracy. If it was, it would be the largest conspiracy ever carried out by the US government. But I guess that could be what happened! I don't think it's as simple as that. When the case for war against Iraq was made, "multiple departments of the US Government, the executive branch of the government at the very highest level, and several of the largest security firms in the US" all seemed to be in agreement that Iraq definitely had weapons of mass destruction. Clearly, they did not, what happened is that certain facts were overstated and repeated and certain other facts were ignored or downplayed. There is no reason to believe that this is any different because, again, there is a strong political gain for the current administration to have these facts be so. I agree completely that Russia may well be behind the attacks but given the fact that the people making the announcement also have the most to gain from the announcement, I am happy to remain unconvinced until I see more evidence.