Paul: Bush administration wrong to bomb Iraq

AMES, Iowa -- Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul told hundreds of Iowa State students on Wednesday night that after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, there was "glee in the administration because now we can invade Iraq."

He said the Bush administration, driven by the beat of "war drums,'' was wrong to bomb Iraq because it did not orchestrate the attacks in 2001.

The crowd of roughly 1,000 people didn't react. This National Journal reporter posted Paul's comment on Twitter, leading Bush's former press secretary, Ari Fleischer, to respond: "The man is nuts.''

This is not the first time the Texas congressman has drawn flak for his views of the attacks. He has previously said U.S. military intervention in the Middle East was partly to blame, leading rival Rick Santorum to call him "irresponsible'' in a nationally televised debate in September. Paul drew boos from the audience when he responded.