Powell Says Iraq Intel 'Was Not Cooked'

March 14 -- A year ago, America invaded Iraq, taking aim at Saddam Hussein and the banned weapons the White House thought he had, with the goal of bringing democracy to the Middle East.

ABCNEWS This Week's George Stephanopoulos and George Will spoke with the man who made the administration's case for war, Secretary of State Colin Powell, to examine where things stand with Iraq.

Following are excerpts of the conversation.

George Stephanopoulos, ABCNEWS' This Week anchor: The Iraqis [ABCNEWS] is talking to,including members of the Iraqi Governing Council, aren't quite surewhether they're ready for the handover of power on June 30.

Secretary of State Colin Powell: We are creating a democracy where one has notexisted before. But the Iraqi people seem to want a democracy. Theywant to live in freedom. They enjoy the ability to speak out the wayPeter Jennings just described [in a preceeding segment].There is this vibrant debate and discussion taking placenow in Iraq. And so we are going to shoot for returning sovereignty,and I think we can make it on the first of July.But it doesn't mean we're abandoning Iraq on the first of July.We will continue to have 100,000 troops there helping them with theirsecurity as their own security forces show greater ability to protectthe population. We'll also have a very large embassy.So we're not walking out on Iraq on the first of July. We willbe with them. And what they have to do over the next several monthsis determine what kind of government they want to have during thisinterim period.And then there's a lot more to come — the writing of the fullconstitution, real, full national elections for an assembly and for anew government.Well, let's not discount how much we have accomplished in thelast year. Schools are being rebuilt, hospitals are being rebuilt,the infrastructure's coming back up, the oil is starting to flow.We're going to jump-start the economy as fast as we can with the moneythat Congress has provided.