WASHINGTON, D.C. -- President George W. Bush admitted Thursday that Iraq did not have the weapons stockpiles he warned of when the United States invaded last year, but insisted that the invasion was the right course because Saddam Hussein was a "unique enemy" who had the means and the intent to make the weapons.

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Bush, Kerry Trade Words Over WMD Report

Bush made a surprise statement to reporters at the White House before leaving for a Wisconsin campaign rally. His comments came a day after Charles Duelfer, the top U.S. weapons hunter, said there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

"The Duelfer report also raises important new information about Saddam Hussein's defiance of the world in his intent and capability to develop weapons," Bush said. "The Duelfer report showed that Saddam was systematically gaming the system, using the U.N. oil-for-food program to try to influence countries and companies in an effort to undermine sanctions."

Bush said that Hussein was doing so with the intent of restarting his weapons program once the world looked away. "Based on all the information we had to date, I believe we were right to take action and America is safer today with Saddam Hussein in prison," the president said.

Bush acknowledged that the report makes it clear that much of the accumulated body of 12 years of U.S. intelligence was wrong and "we must find out why and correct the flaws."

"At a time of many threats in the world, the intelligence on which the president and members of Congress based their decisions must be better and it will be," he said.

Vice President Dick Cheney echoed Bush's sentiments during a campaign speech in Florida.

Cheney said the report backs up the nation's decision to invade Iraq, rather than poking a hole in it. Cheney told supporters in Miami that the report proves Saddam was intent on getting weapons and that waiting to take action was not an option.

Appearing in Colorado, where he was practicing for the second presidential debate Friday, Democratic U.S. Sen. John Kerry said Bush was not be honest with the American people about the situation in postwar Iraq.

Kerry said Bush and Cheney may be the last two people on the planet who won't face the truth about Iraq.

If Bush fails to recognize the severity of problems in Iraq, then Kerry or America will face a situation as chaotic as the Middle East in the early 1980s if elected, Kerry said.

Kerry said the report provides definitive evidence as to why Bush shouldn't be re-elected.