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(Capitol Hill-AP) -- Secretary of State Colin Powell is giving his strongest defense yet of President Bush's decision to invade Iraq.
Powell told the House International Relations Committee that the U-S did the right thing and should be proud of its action. He rhetorically asks if the U-S is safer now -- and Powell responds with a definite "yes."
He also insists that Bush got the best intelligence advice possible about Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction. Although none has been found, Powell stresses there is no doubt that Saddam intended to acquire such weapons and never lost that intent.
Powell also says there's "no question in the intelligence community" that Saddam had the people and the infrastructure that would give him the ability to acquire these weapons.
The secretary of state also notes that other nations -- such as Iran and North Korea -- should learn a lesson from Iraq that the U-S won't ignore threats to its national security.
(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
