FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2005

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi: ‘With Search for WMD in Iraq Over, President Needs to Explain Why He Was So Wrong, for So Long’

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on media reports that the Iraq Survey Group, whose job it was to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, has ended its efforts: 

"After a search that has consumed nearly two years and millions of dollars, and a war that has cost thousands of lives, no weapons of mass destruction have been found, nor has any evidence been uncovered that such weapons were moved to another country.  Not only was there not an imminent threat to the United States, the threat described in such alarmist tones by President Bush and the most senior members of his Administration did not exist at all.

"Citing the continuing search by the Iraq Survey Group, President Bush has refused to concede what has been obvious for months: the primary justification for the invasion of Iraq was not supported by fact.  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.”

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi