This is serious. In a democracy, the president derives his legitimacy from the public. Erode that trust and the president's authority will slip away like water through open fingers. That said, those 16 words were not fatal. The fact remains that Saddam maintained an active weapons program. On this point there is wide consensus amongst international intelligence agencies.

It is well known that in 1991 Hussein was on the verge of acquiring nuclear capabilities. Throughout the '90s, he continued to stockpile biological and chemical weapons. Iraqi physicists have reported that Iraq has most of the critical components to create a nuclear weapon. According to German intelligence reports, Iraq would be nuclear by 2005. Our own intelligence estimated that Iraq would acquire a nuclear weapon by the end of the decade, perhaps sooner if Hussein acquired fission material. This would present the doomsday scenario - Saddam possessing the nuclear, biological, chemical capacity and money to attack the West. In effect, Iraq becomes the engine of terrorism that further destabilizes the Middle East and fuels the hatred of people intent on destroying America. "Was that a threat that you could allow to sit unanswered?" asked Rice on "News Hour." "The answer is no."

Rice, a woman with uncommon access to strength and intelligence, did not quiver. And the world is safer now because of her leadership. The 16 words the president uttered remain a true exposition of the British government's position. It is regrettable that the president used it when our own intelligence thought it was suspect. But as articulated, it is a true statement.

Scrutiny is an appropriate response. But the fact remains that Rice did not lie and her actions have made the world safer. Armed with little else with which to assault Rice, her enemies have latched onto those 16 words to bloody her reputation.

One longs for the days when you had to actually lie to have your integrity impugned.