Kennedy stands by criticism of Bush on Iraq
DeLay says Democratic senator 'went too far'
By Sean Loughlin
CNN Washington Bureau
Friday, September 19, 2003

Sen. Ted Kennedy tells The Associated Press that the Iraq war was 'made up in Texas.'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Under fire from Republicans on Friday, Sen. Edward Kennedy defended his harsh criticism of President Bush's policy on Iraq, in which he charged that the threat from Saddam Hussein was exaggerated by the administration for political purposes.

"This is a failed, flawed, bankrupt policy," the Massachusetts Democrat said on CNN's "Judy Woodruff's Inside Politics." "The American people want answers."

Kennedy spoke in the wake of an interview with The Associated Press in which he said the threat from Iraq was concocted to suit the administration's political agenda.

"There was no imminent threat," Kennedy told the AP. "This was made up in Texas, announced in January to the Republican leadership that war was going to take place and was going to be good politically. This whole thing was a fraud."