abcnews.go.com/sections/primetime/US/bush_sawyer_excerpts_2_031216.html
WMD Intelligence DIANE SAWYER: Fifty percent of the American people have said that they think the administration exaggerated the evidence going into the war with Iraq, weapons of mass destruction, connection to terrorism. PRESIDENT BUSH: The intelligence I operated one was good sound intelligence, the same intelligence that my predecessor operated on. The otherwise the United Nations might wouldnt a passed, you know, resolution after resolution after resolution, demanding that he disarm.
When you take a look back, Vice President Cheney said there is no doubt, Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction, not programs, not intent. Secretary Powell said 100 to 500 tons of chemical weapons and now the inspectors say that theres no evidence of these weapons existing right now. Again, the intelligence the inspectors have said they cant confirm this, they cant corroborate. PRESIDENT BUSH: But what David Kay did discover was they had a weapons program, and had that, that let me finish for a second. Had that knowledge been examined by the United Nations or had David Kays report been placed in front of the United Nations, he, he, Saddam Hussein, would have been in material breach of 1441, which meant it was a causis belli . And look, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein was a dangerous person, and theres no doubt we had a body of evidence proving that, and there is no doubt that the president must act, after 9/11, to make America a more secure country. DIANE SAWYER: Again, Im just trying to ask, these are supporters, people who believed in the war who have asked the question. PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, you can keep asking the question and my answers gonna be the same. Saddam was a danger and the world is better off cause we got rid of him. DIANE SAWYER: But stated as a hard fact, that there were weapons of mass destruction as opposed to the possibility that he could move to acquire those weapons still PRESIDENT BUSH: So whats the difference? DIANE SAWYER: Well PRESIDENT BUSH: The possibility that he could acquire weapons. A gathering threat, after 9/11, is a threat that needed to be de dealt with, and it was done after 12 long years of the world saying the mans a danger. And so we got rid of him and theres no doubt the world is a safer, freer place as a result of Saddam being gone. DIANE SAWYER: But, but, again, some, some of the critics have said this combined with the failure to establish proof of, of elaborate terrorism contacts, has indicated that theres just not precision, at best, and misleading, at worst. Look what what we based our evidence on was a very sound National Intelligence Estimate.
PRESIDENT BUSH: What I, I I made my decision based upon enough intelligence to tell me that this country was threatened with Saddam Hussein in power. DIANE SAWYER: What would it take to convince you he didnt have weapons of mass destruction? PRESIDENT BUSH: Saddam Hussein was a threat and the fact that he is gone means America is a safer country. DIANE SAWYER: And if he doesnt have weapons of mass destruction inaudible PRESIDENT BUSH: Diane, you can keep asking the question. Im telling you I made the right decision for America DIANE SAWYER: But- PRESIDENT BUSH: because Saddam Hussein used weapons of mass destruction, invaded Kuwait.
DIANE SAWYER: You have said that Secretary Cheney that Vice President Cheney will be the Vice Presidential candidate. DIANE SAWYER: Is it important to have continuity in the Secretary of Defense in the next term? Will you promise PRESIDENT BUSH: I havent made any decisions on Cabinet except for the Vice President. I mean, everybodys got to understand that that their job is for four years, and Ill make those decisions, if Im fortunate enough to win. Im not sure who Ill be voting against because I dont they havent nominated a candidate yet. But I know who Ill be voting for, and I just hope the people stay with us.
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