I don't think it was an easy thing for Colin Powell to admit (t)his HUGE mistake.
Irak was under constant inspections by the international community before this war was started, just like Iran is under surveillance.
This commitee concluded that there was no evidence that Irak had weapons of mass destruction. Their findings were put aside by the US.
Sure, Pieter, the "inspections by the international community" involved areas where they were allowed to go, at times they were allowed to go there. That's not an "inspection" cycle that encourages confidence. It's the same crap that's been going on in Iran. The only kind of inspection arrangement that can even come close to guaranteeing anything is one that allows
inspectors actually interested in turning up violations to go anywhere they want to go any time time want to go there.
Of course thee was "no evidence."