President Bush has taken responsibility for claims about Iraqi weapons programs that turned out to be based on forged documents. The controversy has raised questions about the Bush Administration's use of questionable intelligence reports to justify its invasion of Iraq.
It was the president's most direct response to questions about how his January State of the Union speech included erroneous allegations about Iraqi attempts to buy uranium in Africa. "I take personal responsibility for everything I say, of course. Absolutely. I also take responsibility for making decisions on war and peace," he said.
Mr. Bush said he analyzed what he calls "good, solid, sound intelligence" in making his decision to move against Saddam Hussein. Part of his case against the former Iraqi leader was based on documents that the United Nations says are forgeries that the White House now admits should not have been included in his speech.
CIA Director George Tennet has taken responsibility for the mistake, as has the deputy to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Appearing to share some of that blame Wednesday, the president defended Ms. Rice as "an honest, fabulous person" and the United States, he says, "is lucky to have her service."