As a Kerry supporter I have to say you are right. No question Bush had to respond to the intelligence that was provided to him. Whether that intelligence was correct or not there was no way for Bush to know. (The CIA has blown it in the past. They never predicted the collapse of the East Bloc in the late '80s.)

That aside, I think there is very little doubt that everyone in Bush's inner circle wanted to get Saddam before they were ever elected... um, appointed. There was a lot of unfinished business here for Cheney, Wolfowitz et al. These guys really obsessed over how they let Saddam survive in GW1. There is a serious family grudge here too. Saddam tried to kill Bush Sr. Dubya, his dad, almost everyone around him really wanted to kick that scum bag's ass.

I'm hesitant to mention the personal financial interests involved here but it's there for anyone see. Whether those interests influenced any decision making only they will know in their hearts.

Regardless, I'm certain they were all commited many years ago to overthrowing Saddam in their first term if they were elected. I'm not even saying that's a bad thing. But let's cut the bullshit here. Yeah Iraq appeared to be a threat but so does North Korea and Iran. So does China. We invaded Iraq in large part to settle an old score.

Admit it. Embrace it. Justify it! Quit trying to act like it wasn't a big part of the equation! We ALL know it's true.

This was personal. These guys wanted Saddam gone. Now all they needed was a CIA report (which they could later blame if it was wrong) to give them an excuse....