[Amelia]

TR: UN role in rebuilding Iraq?

GWB: Not going to give them a role spending our money. Will play a vital role in helping Iraqis develop a new government.

International community can help restore infrastructure.

TR: Primary rationale for war was to disarm Saddam. Wolfowitz said helping Iraqis reason to remove Saddam but not reason to put our lives at risk. In hindsight was what we did worth 500+ American lives?

GWB: All lives precious, but in a nutshell, YES. Saddam was dangerous, can leave a madman in power. At minimum had ability to make weapons. Kay said in many ways Iraq more dangerous than we thought.

Free Iraq will change the world. These are historic times. Middle East full of hatred & violence. America has a responsibility to lead in the world, speak out against threats, do something about people like Saddam, fight AIDS, fight hunger. That's history's call.

TR: Since we didn't find WMD, was war in Iraq war of choice or of necessity?

GWB: We had no choice when we looked at the intelligence I looked at. The man was a threat. I sound like a broken record, but Kay returned with an interim report that said iraq was a dangerous place, & when asked if Pres. made right decision, Kay said YES.

[dawn53]

The only reason the President is repeating himself is that TR is repeating himself. He keeps asking the same question over and over again, just phrased a little differently.

I'm not watching, just what I'm gathering from the posts.

[chiller]

You are awesome....a court reporter by any chance?

[Mother Mary]

TR: Since we didn't find WMD, was war in Iraq war of choice or of necessity?

It was a Necessary Choice, Tim.

[alnick]

I sound like a broken record, but Kay returned with an interim report that said iraq was a dangerous place

The reason he had to keep repeating himself on that point is that Russert refused to acknowledge that the president even pointed out that fact, much less that it is true.