Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

U.S. ends hunt after failing to find Saddam’s WMDs

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – The White House acknowledged Wednesday that its hunt for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction – a two-year search costing millions of dollars – has closed down without finding the stockpiles that President Bush cited as a justification for overthrowing Saddam Hussein.

Bush’s spokesman said the president has no regrets about invading Iraq.

“Based on what we know today, the president would have taken the same action because this is about protecting the American people,” said press secretary Scott McClellan.

The up to 1,500-member Iraq Survey Group is ending its search of military installations, factories and laboratories where it was thought that equipment and products might be converted for making weapons.

On Wednesday, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said, “Now that the search is finished, President Bush needs to explain to the American people why he was so wrong, for so long, about the reasons for war.”