...there were photos too and he made a compelling enough case that most people (and not you and I Roger) fell for it. If as someone seems to suggest that Powell did not believe there were WMDs, then that would mean he violted his oath to serve the country which comes before Bush. But I don't buy that for a second. Currently Powell's favoralbe rating is at 80%.
The intelligence Powell used included not only American intelligence but from elsewhere as well and we were not alone in the conclusion over WMD's. Some still argue the WMD's were removed. While it seems silly, there was one situation where a journalist was imbeeded with troops that came upon huge wherehouse full of C-3 or C-4 explosives and left it. When we returned, the whole warhouse was cleaned out...so who knows?....the removal is a plausible scenario although I think it unlikely.
It is also my undestanding that the US slashed intelligence funds tremendously in the previous administration despite al quaeda attacks and threats going on.