We went and sold -- oversold the case to the American people on the war and not only that, but the emphasis was more on the weapons of mass destruction than it was on really the driving motivation behind the decision to go to war, which was the president's desire to transform the Middle East through the spread of democracy.
Scott McClellan: “We went and sold -- oversold the case to the American people on the war and not only that, but the emphasis was more on…”
Editor's note · Context
McClellan discusses how the Bush administration emphasized weapons of mass destruction over the broader goal of promoting democracy in the Middle East.
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This is my honest perspective on how things went off track. And that's all I can do is honestly and forthrightly express my views and let the chips fall where they may.
When I found out I had been knowingly lied to by Karl Rove and Scooter Libby in the Valerie Plame leak episode and passed along false information based on their assurances two years prior to that saying that they weren't involved.
I asked them point-blank, 'Were you involved in this in any way?' Both assured me in unequivocal terms, no.
I felt like we were rushing into this. But, because of my position and my affection for the president and my belief and trust in he and his advisers, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. And, looking back on it and reflecting on it now, I…