Mr Bush made the joke at a black-tie event for radio and television journalists in Washington on Wednesday night.

He narrated a slide show, described as the White House election year album, making hay of the administration's reputation for secrecy and strained relations with European allies. But it was the joke about the war in Iraq that drew attacks.

A slide showed Mr Bush in the Oval office, leaning to look under a piece of furniture. "Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be here somewhere," he told the audience, drawing applause.

Another slide showed him peering into another part of the office, "Nope, no weapons over there," he said, laughing. "Maybe under here," he said, as a third slide was shown.

John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat who will fight Mr Bush for the White House said the joke displayed a "stunningly cavalier" attitude.

"If George Bush thinks his deceptive rationale for going to war is a laughing matter, then he's even more out of touch than we thought. Unfortunately for the president, this is not a joke."

He added: "585 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq in the last year, 3,354 have been wounded and there's no end in sight. George Bush sold us on going to war with Iraq based on the threat of weapons of mass destruction. But we still haven't found them, and now he thinks that's funny?"

The statement from Mr Kerry also included a comment from an Iraqi war veteran, Brad Owens.

"War is the single most serious event that a president or government can carry its people into," he said. "This cheapens the sacrifice that American soldiers and their families are dealing with every single day."

CNN viewers emailed the network to vent their anger at the joke. "How can a thinking, caring human being joke about the lies that led to body bags and broken young men and women? I was appalled," wrote one viewer. Another said: "It was tasteless and childish. It shows the true man - or child in his case."

The defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, later declined to give an opinion at a press conference. "To know what I would think, I would have to be there," he said.

Mr Bush's skit poked fun of members of the administration, including Mr Rumsfeld.

When he showed another slide, the president joked: "Oops, this photo wasn't supposed to be in here. This is the skull and bones secret signal.


editorial
Bush makes jokes about the missing WMD
by Cary Birdwell

President Bush managed to surprise the nation once again. While attending the annual dinner of the Radio and Television News Correspondents Association, Bush presented a slide show which, in an attempt at humor, made continual references to his search for weapons of mass destruction by showing photos of him looking for WMD under the rug or behind the furniture in the Oval Office. Observers have reported that it was, in fact, the on-going gag throughout the presentation. Although it appears that the majority of persons present found some humor in this, there are others who have found it deeply offensive.

Like many others, I am offended by his tactless comments about his failure to find WMD. And no, my opinion has nothing to do with party lines. Bush insisted that we would find WMD. Over 500 American soldiers have lost their lives in the course of this war, as well as hundreds of Iraqi citizens. A year after the start of the war the White House's claims have yet to be proven. Now don't get me wrong. I am not stating that Saddam Hussein was a beneficent ruler and that his defeat and expulsion was unnecessary or unjust. I am saying though that before we go to war we should have pretty clear reasons backed up by incontrovertible proof, presented in an honest and understandable manner. Lying, stretching the truth, and presenting misleading statements are not acceptable standards for ANY administration. The number one reason we went to Iraq was WMD. If that proof has yet to materialize I see no reason to make light of that fact, or to insult the memory and honor of those who have given their lives for the interests of our country, or those that remain in Iraq to face persistent danger at the hands of foreign terrorists. Our soldiers are away from their homes and family, stationed in a hot, dusty, foreign land, stuck with eating military rations, and facing the possibility of death every day. And here, safely in America, sits President Bush eating a four-course meal, being waited on hand and foot, surrounded by bodyguards, and making light of the reasons why he sent our soldiers to Iraq.

That is just wrong!

- C. Birdwell