WASHINGTON – President Bush and his vice president conceded Thursday in the clearest terms yet that Saddam Hussein had no weapons of mass destruction, even as they tried to shift the Iraq war debate to a new issue — whether the invasion was justified because Saddam was abusing a U.N. oil-for-food program.

Are you shitting me?!? Are you fucking pulling my leg?!?

I mean, good for finally admitting no WMD, but – – – ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?

The abuse of the oil-for-food program is reprehensible. And every country, company, diplomat, or individual knowingly involved in it should be charged with a crime and punished accordingly (even the ones here in the United States who the Duelfer Report couldn’t mention by name).

But if we could get in the time machine and do it again — knowing what we know now — would we put so many men and women’s lives on the line simply because Saddam (and others) were committing a CRIME rather than a POSING a THREAT?!?

Maybe I just read this wrong, and I am overreacting, but . . . . ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?

Ridiculing the Bush administration’s evolving rationale for war, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news – web sites) shot back: "You don’t make up or find reasons to go to war after the fact"

No kidding, John.

Anyone recall Tommy Flanagen — the Jon Lovitz SNL character? Better known as the Liar? "Yeah — Actually we invaded Iraq because . . . we . . . because of the oil-for-food program. Yeah. That’s the ticket."