What makes a bad excuse a bad excuse

This week, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice testified in Congress and was pressed by Congressman Robert Wexler on the flaw intelligence regarding Iraq WMD. You can see the video here . Her excuse, as was given many time before by those defending the Iraqi War, that many of the other foreign intelligent agencies also came up with the same conclusion. Somehow, I don't understand why people would buy that excuse. Obviously Congressman Wexler did and not question her on that point.

Why that excuse is bad? Maybe it is true that other foreign intelligence have the same conclusion, but you can't deny the fact that no other country went to war over their "conclusion". But we did and we wasted trillion of dollars and sacrificed thousands of brave American life. That clearly showed a big different in interpretation. And in fact, most of other same countries were against the invasion of Iraq. There is a big gap between a "belief" and "acting" on that belief.

That argument maybe too hard to understand, so let me take it in another way. Let's say many of your neighbors believe that the man lives down the street abuses his wife and kids. Yes, all of you saw something suspicious and swear that he mus be guilty. One day, you decide to knock down his door, beat him up, and rescue his wife and kids. But the problem is there is no abuse. Do you really believe that you can tell the police that you action is justifiable because your other neighbors believe the same. So you shouldn't be charged with assault. Do you think that excuse would fly?

Now, the other foreign intelligent agencies have the same "conclusion" is a bad excuse. But I don't blame them for using that because they got away with it. It is important for those who are against the war to call them on it. I wish Congressman Wexler did.