Iraq war based on 'lies, misinterpretations'

"There was no reason for us to become involved in Iraq recently," Carter told Britain's daily The Independent. "That was a war based on lies and misinterpretations from London and from Washington, claiming falsely that Saddam Hussein was responsible for (the) 9/11 attacks, claiming falsely that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

"And I think that President (George W) Bush and Prime Minister (Tony) Blair probably knew that many of the allegations were based on uncertain intelligence ... a decision was made to go to war (then people said) 'let's find a reason to do so'."

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The 2002 Nobel peace prize winner said he believed that Bush was the prime instigator of the war and Blair let himself be convinced that it was justified.

"I think the basic reason was made not in London but in Washington," he said. "I think that Bush Jr was inclined to finish a war that his father had precipitated against Iraq.

"I think it was that commitment of Bush that prevailed over, I think, the better judgement of Tony Blair and Tony Blair became an enthusiastic supporter of the Bush policy".

Carter's criticism came amid efforts by the White House to downplay accusations by a former top Bush terrorism advisor who accused the current administration of doing a "terrible job" of defending the country against terrorism.