What the President Said

The White House and Fox News are spinning furiously in response to the 9/11 commission's recent report, which contradicts one of the administration's key arguments for war with its finding that there was no working relationship between Iraq and Al Qaeda. Bush still insists that "there was a relationship," while adding, "This administration never said that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated between Saddam and al Qaeda." But even that's a lie. Here's what he told Congress in March 2003: "I have also determined that the use of armed force against Iraq is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations, or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001."