Weapons of Mass Destruction Report

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION REPORT -- (House of Representatives - October 07, 2004)

(Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, listen to these words: "There can be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has biological and chemical weapons." Secretary of State Colin Powell. "Iraq could have nuclear weapons in less than one year." President Bush. "Iraq is rebuilding chemical and biological weapons facilities. We believe, in fact, he has reconstituted nuclear weapons." Vice President Cheney.

These are the words used by the Bush administration to convince the world that Saddam Hussein was an imminent threat to the American people; but as confirmed by the President's own weapons inspector, the administration was "almost all wrong in every aspect of its case for war." There was no "grave and gathering threat." And the only smoking gun found is evidence that this administration knew this intelligence was shaky, and at worst, wrong.

If U.N. inspectors had been given a few more months in Iraq, we would have known that Iraq was no serious threat. Now, the best case scenario we can achieve in Iraq is, and I quote, "tenuous stability;" the worst case, civil war.

President Bush gave two speeches on the campaign trail yesterday. Neither mentioned the report. When is this administration going to admit to grievous errors of misjudgment?