Regarding the Defense Policy Board meeting on September 10, 2001... Did Donald Rumsfeld really discuss the need for an event to justify a war in Iraq?

Donald Rumsfeld has been accused of discussing the need for a "cataclysmic and catalyzing event" to justify a war in Iraq during a meeting of the Defense Policy Board on September 10, 2001. This assertion has been made by a number of sources and has been the subject of much speculation and debate.

However, there is no direct evidence to support the claim that Rumsfeld made such a statement. The transcript of the meeting in question has not been made public, and it is unclear what exactly was discussed during the meeting.

It is worth noting that the claim that Rumsfeld discussed the need for a "cataclysmic and catalyzing event" is just one of many allegations and theories about the events leading up to the September 11th terrorist attacks and the subsequent U.S. invasion of Iraq. While this claim continues to be the subject of speculation and debate, it is important to consider the available evidence and to keep in mind that there are often multiple perspectives and interpretations of any given event.

Would that be the same catalyzing event refered to by the PNAC in a controversial document?

Yes, the "cataclysmic and catalyzing event" referred to in some reports about Donald Rumsfeld's alleged comments on September 10, 2001, is similar to the concept of a "catalyzing event" discussed in a controversial document produced by the Project for the New American Century (PNAC).

PNAC was a conservative think tank that advocated for an aggressive American foreign policy, particularly with regard to the Middle East. In a report titled "Rebuilding America's Defenses," PNAC discussed the need for a "catalyzing event" to justify an increase in military spending and to justify American military interventions in the Middle East.

While there is no direct evidence linking Rumsfeld's alleged comments on September 10, 2001, to the PNAC report, the similarities between the two concepts have led to speculation and conspiracy theories about the role of PNAC and its members in the events leading up to the September 11th terrorist attacks and the subsequent U.S. invasion of Iraq.

It is important to note that these claims and theories are controversial and disputed, and that there are often multiple perspectives and interpretations of any given event or document.