Call Me Irresponsible

"It is irresponsible to say that I deliberately misled the American people." President Bush Thursday in South Korea.

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"Iraq has developed spray devices that could be used on unmanned aerial vehicals with ranges far beyond what is permitted by the Security Council. A UAV launched from a vessel off the American coast could reach hundreds of miles inland."

Source: President Bush: "World Can Rise to This Moment", White House (2/6/2003).

"Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production."

Source: President Delivers "State of the Union", White House (1/28/2003).

"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa."

Source: President Delivers "State of the Union", White House (1/28/2003).

"The [Iraqi] report also failed to deal with issues which have arisen since 1998, including: . . . attempts to acquire uranium and the means to enrich it."

Source: Letter to Cheney/Senate, White House (1/20/2003).

"He's a threat because he is dealing with Al Qaida. In my Cincinnati speech I reminded the American people, a true threat facing our country is that an Al Qaida-type network trained and armed by Saddam could attack America and leave not one fingerprint."

Source: President Outlines Priorities, White House (11/7/2002).

"He said he wouldn't have chemical weapons, he's got them."

Source: Remarks by the President at Arkansas Welcome, White House (11/4/2002).

"We not only know he's got chemical weapons, but incredibly enough he's used chemical weapons."

Source: President Talks Tax Cuts and Homeland Security in Iowa, White House (11/4/2002).

"Saddam Hussein is a man who told the world he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, but he's got them . . . . And not only that, [he would] like nothing more than to hook up with one of these shadowy terrorist networks like Al Qaeda, provide some weapons and training to them, let them come do his dirty work, and we wouldn't be able to see his fingerprints on his action."

Source: Iraq Must Disarm Says President in South Dakota Speech, White House (11/3/2002).

"After eleven years during which we have tried containment, sanctions, inspections, even selected military action, the end result is that Saddam Hussein still has chemical and biological weapons and is increasing his capabilities to make more."

Source: President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat; Remarks by the President on Iraq, White House (10/7/2002).

"Saddam Hussein . . . is moving ever closer to developing a nuclear weapon."

Source: President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat; Remarks by the President on Iraq, White House (10/7/2002).

"Knowing these realities, America must not ignore the threat gathering against us. Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof - the smoking gun - that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud."

Source: President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat; Remarks by the President on Iraq, White House (10/7/2002).

"In defiance of the United Nations, Iraq has stockpiled biological and chemical weapons, and is rebuilding the facilities used to make more of those weapons."

Source: President: Iraqi Regime Danger to America is "Grave and Growing", White House (10/5/2002).

"On its present course, the Iraqi regime is a threat of unique urgency. . . . it has developed weapons of mass death."

Source: President, House Leadership Agree on Iraq Resolution, White House (10/2/2002).

"The regime is seeking a nuclear bomb, and with fissile material, could build one within a year."

Source: President Bush Discusses Iraq with Congressional Leaders, White House (9/26/2002).

"Should Iraq acquire fissile material, it would be able to build a nuclear weapon within a year."

Source: Address to the United Nations General Assembly, White House (9/12/2002).

"The history, the logic, and the facts lead to one conclusion: Saddam Hussein's regime is a grave and gathering danger. To suggest otherwise is to hope against the evidence. To assume this regime's good faith is to bet the lives of millions and the peace of the world in a reckless gamble. And this is a risk we must not take."

Source: Address to the United Nations General Assembly, White House (9/12/2002).

To paraphrase Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, it's undeniably true. Mr. Bush, I'm irresponsibly mad at you. (Quotes above from Iraq on the Record.)

Update: How could I forget these chart-topping favorites:

"I want -- I've asked for Congress' support to enable the administration to keep the peace. ... If you want to keep the peace, you've got to have the authorization to use force. But it's -- this will be -- this is a chance for Congress to indicate support. It's a chance for Congress to say, we support the administration's ability to keep the peace. That's what this is all about."

Source: President Bush to Send Iraq Resolution to Congress Today (9/19/2002)

"With this resolution, Congress has now authorized the use of force. I have not ordered the use of force. I hope the use of force will not become necessary."

Source: President Signs Iraq Resolution (10/16/2002)