Since the beginning of the Iraq war, write Brendan Nyhan and Bryan Keefer, "politicians and the American media have continued to circulate misinformation, much of which has gone largely unchecked." On the Spinsanity.org web site, they have compiled a list of "myths and misconceptions about the war." Examples include:

• Iraq has launched Scud missiles at coalition forces and civilians in Kuwait.
  
• The coalition against Iraq is larger than the one that conducted the first Gulf War.
  
• Evidence found at the Ansar Al-Islam camp ties Al Qaeda to Saddam Hussein.
  
• No one in the administration ever claimed the war in Iraq would be easy.