WMD search in Iraq is over, White House says

From the AP via the Houston Chronicle:

The search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq has quietly concluded without any evidence of the banned weapons that President Bush cited as justification for going to war, the White House said today.

Democrats said Bush owes the country an explanation of why he was so wrong.

The Iraq Survey Group, made up of some 1,200 military and intelligence specialists and support staff, spent nearly two years searching military installations, factories and laboratories whose equipment and products might be converted quickly to making weapons.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said there no longer is an active search for weapons and the administration does not hold out hopes that any weapons will be found.

And

Bush unapologetically defended his decision to invade Iraq.

"Nothing's changed in terms of his views when it comes to Iraq, what he has previously stated and what you have previously heard," McClellan said. "The president knows that by advancing freedom in a dangerous region we are making the world a safer place."

Bush has appointed a panel to investigate why the intelligence about Iraq's weapons was wrong.

McClellan said the Iraq experience would not make Bush hesitant to raise alarms when he deems it necessary.

Click here for the rest.

That last statement makes it clear that Bush is completely willing to do the whole thing over again if he wants to. Sigh.

I've talked about this so many times, I'm almost sick of it, so I'll be very brief. The US did not invade in order to "liberate" the Iraqis: the US invaded because of the imminent threat posed by supposed weapons of mass destruction that Saddam might have given to Al-Qaeda terrorists. It was understood at the time that Saddam had no connections with bin Laden's organization. It was understood at the time that Saddam had no weapons of mass destruction. Now it is completely clear to everybody who believed Bush's lies that they were hoodwinked--that is, it's clear if they pull their heads out of the sand.

Hundreds of thousands are now dead because the President lied. He was not "mistaken;" he lied. Bush belongs in prison. Period.

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