Actually, it's much worse ...

This morning, the Greg Brady wing of the blogosphere (No, Dad, you said I couldn't use our car. Those were your exact words ...) continues to complain bitterly about the assertion by some that the Bush administration presented Saddam as an "imminent threat" to the American people before the war.

Guess what? They're right. George Bush never said that the danger from Iraq was imminent. No, he went much, much further than that.

In Iraq, a dictator is building and hiding weapons that could enable him to dominate the Middle East and intimidate the civilized world -- and we will not allow it. (Applause.) This same tyrant has close ties to terrorist organizations, and could supply them with the terrible means to strike this country -- and America will not permit it. The danger posed by Saddam Hussein and his weapons cannot be ignored or wished away. The danger must be confronted. We hope that the Iraqi regime will meet the demands of the United Nations and disarm, fully and peacefully. If it does not, we are prepared to disarm Iraq by force. Either way, this danger will be removed. (Applause.)

The safety of the American people depends on ending this direct and growing threat. Acting against the danger will also contribute greatly to the long-term safety and stability of our world. The current Iraqi regime has shown the power of tyranny to spread discord and violence in the Middle East. A liberated Iraq can show the power of freedom to transform that vital region, by bringing hope and progress into the lives of millions. America's interests in security, and America's belief in liberty, both lead in the same direction: to a free and peaceful Iraq. (Applause.) [Emph. added]

Not imminent, direct. Not in the near future, but in the present, the here and now.

So the war hawks are absolutely correct. They shouldn't have to try to defend George Bush against the specious charge that he overstated the threat from Iraq only slightly when, in fact, he overstated it enormously. And I'd like to sincerely thank Andrew Sullivan and his compatriots for forcing us to properly (and accurately) hold the president accountable for doing so.

[Post updated and corrected at 11:42 AM]