White House Iraq Group Established for Crisis-Driven Institutional Coordination

Chief of Staff Andrew Card forms White House Iraq Group (WHIG), chaired by Karl Rove, to coordinate systematic messaging strategy for Iraq War. Group includes key Powell Memo-aligned figures including communications strategists Karen Hughes, Mary Matalin, and policy coordination through Condoleezza Rice and Scooter Libby. WHIG represents first large-scale implementation of Powell Memo crisis-exploitation template for rapid institutional capture acceleration. Key participants met regularly in the Situation Room to craft a coordinated narrative supporting the Bush administration’s push for war in Iraq, using strategic communication tactics to build public and congressional support.