BUSH: I don't know -- the biggest regret of all the presidency has to have been the intelligence failure in Iraq. A lot of people put their reputations on the line and said the weapons of mass destruction is a reason to remove Saddam Hussein. It wasn't just people in my administration; a lot of members in Congress, prior to my arrival in Washington D.C., during the debate on Iraq, a lot of leaders of nations around the world were all looking at the same intelligence. And, you know, that's not a do-over, but I wish the intelligence had been different, I guess.The difference between Bush and "a lot of people" who put their reputations on the line is that the decision to go to war was George Bush's and his alone. Just like the Bush administration's suggestion that you go to war with the army you have, you go to war only by the president's order. There is no other way for our military forces to ever conduct military operations against a sovereign country.
Bush also must be confused about what he considers to be "the debate on Iraq." As I recall there was no debate on Iraq. It was either with us or against us. With the terrorists or against them.
The intelligence did not lead us to war. It was an excuse for war but it did not make the decision for war. As we've all been reminded continuously these last 8 years, Bush is the "decider," the "commander guy." This war lies squarely on him, pathetic excuses and all.
Posts
