The debate came two days after the chief U.S. arms inspector reported that Saddam did not have illicit weapons nor the means to make them. Bush said, "I wasn't happy when we found out there wasn't weapons, and we've got an intelligence group together to figure out why." Weapons of mass destruction were the central rationale for the war that has cost more than 1,000 American lives.

The debate — the second of three — opened with a question to Kerry about whether he was too wishy-washy. Kerry turned that question into an attack against Bush, saying the president "didn't find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, so he's really turned his campaign into a weapon of mass deception" by claiming that the four-term Massachusetts senator had changed his mind when he had not.

Kerry said Bush "has presided over an economy where we've lost 1.6 million jobs. The first president in 72 years to lose jobs. I have a plan to put people back to work. That's not wishy-washy." A government report Friday said the nation had lost 821,000 jobs under Bush.

"I can see why people think he changes a lot," Bush retorted, "because he does." He pointed out that Kerry had said he had voted for an $87 billion appropriation for Iraq and Afghanistan before he voted against it.

Kerry used the opportunity to point out that the nation has suffered a net job loss under Bush.

Expanding his criticism of Bush on Iraq, Kerry said the president had diverted resources from the war against terror and also ignored a threat from Iran as it accelerated its nuclear program. "It's a threat. It's a huge threat. It has grown while the president was preoccupied with Iraq," the Democratic challenger said.

Responding to criticism from Kerry in their second debate, Bush said, "That answer made me almost want to scowl." He went on to accuse the senator of advocating a policy that was "naive and dangerous" for bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea rather than the six-nation negotiations set in motion by the Bush administration.

Bush also criticized rumors that the war in Iraq would require the nation to return to a military draft. "We're not going to have a draft. Period," the president said.

The Republican incumbent accused Kerry of denigrating the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq with his claim that the United States is shouldering 90 percent of the costs and casualties. "We've got 30 countries there," Bush said, his voice rising. He mentioned Britain, Italy, Poland as well as other allies.

"Mr. President, countries are leaving the coalition, not joining," Kerry said, asserting that eight countries are pulling out their troops from post-war Iraq.

Bush and Kerry also were put on the spot about their plans for the economy.