In 1999, the U.S. ran some secret 'war games' to explore the consequences of invading Iraq. It found that a force of up to 400,000 troops might be needed, and even then, chaos might ensue. Here's the full story.

From the Washington Post:

GREELEY, Colo., Nov. 4 -- During the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, President Bush and his aides sternly dismissed suggestions that the war was all about oil. "Nonsense," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld declared. "This is not about that," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.

Now, more than 3 1/2 years later, someone else is asserting that the war is about oil -- President Bush.

As he barnstorms across the country campaigning for Republican candidates in Tuesday's elections, Bush has been citing oil as a reason to stay in Iraq. If the United States pulled its troops out prematurely and surrendered the country to insurgents, he warns audiences, it would effectively hand over Iraq's considerable petroleum reserves to terrorists who would use it as a weapon against other countries.

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The Toronto Star's David Olive argues that the role of neo-cons in setting American foreign policy has run its course no matter what happens in today's U.S. midterm elections.

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Dhiren Barot was born a Hindu but converted to Islam. British authorities accuse him of being either a member or associate of al Qaeda. They claim he had a quite astonishing array of plans for attacking targets in Britain and the U.S. He confessed last month to a charge of conspiracy to murder and will be sentenced later today.

Here are some BBC stories:

Man 'planned massive explosions'

Prosecution case against al Qaeda Briton

Muslim convert who plotted terror

Update

Mr. Berot was given life in prison.