Conservative US broadcaster now sceptical about Bush
11.02.2004 10.21 am
WASHINGTON - Conservative television news anchor Bill O'Reilly said on Tuesday he was now sceptical about the Bush administration and apologised to viewers for supporting prewar claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
The anchor of his own show on Fox News said he was sorry he gave the United States government the benefit of the doubt that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's weapons programme posed an imminent threat, the main reason cited for going to war.
"I was wrong. I am not pleased about it at all and I think all Americans should be concerned about this," O'Reilly said in an interview with ABC's Good Morning America.
"What do you want me to do, go over and kiss the camera?" asked O'Reilly, who had promised rival ABC last year he would publicly apologise if weapons were not found.
O'Reilly said he was "much more sceptical about the Bush administration now" since former weapons inspector David Kay said he did not think Saddam had any weapons of mass destruction.
"I think every American should be very concerned for themselves that our intelligence is not as good as it should be."
O'Reilly anticipated the presidential election would be a close race, adding he thought Democratic front-runner Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts would be a formidable opponent against Bush.
"It will be a very close race. The nation is divided," he said.
