Basic English:

plan - noun - a detailed formulation of a program of action

Did the Clinton administration have a plan (filed away somewhere) for toppling Saddam Hussein?

Yes.

Did the Bush administration have a plan for toppling Saddam Hussein?

Yes.

plan - verb - to have as a specific aim or purpose; intend: They plan to buy a house.

Did the Clinton administration plan to topple Saddam Hussein?

No.

Did the Bush administration plan to topple Saddam Hussein?

Yes, as early as the first weeks of Bush's term (according to Paul O'Neill).

Conservative pundits would have you believe that there was no difference between Clinton and Bush because they each had a plan (the noun) for toppling Hussein. But the difference is that Clinton did not plan (the verb) to do it. Bush did - right from the start, prior to 9/11 - and the wisdom of that is what is at question.

posted by Quiddity at 1/14/2004 08:14:00 AM