Spielberg and Cruise back Bush's war on Iraq - Staff and agencies Friday September 27, 2002

Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise became George Bush's most high-profile Hollywood supporters yesterday when they tentatively suggested that war on Iraq may be inevitable. In Rome to promote the Italian release of Minority Report, the director and actor found their PR duties sidetracked by press questions about President Bush's policy on Saddam Hussein.

Looking uncomfortable, Spielberg appeared to throw his weight behind the president. "If Bush, as I believe, has reliable information on the fact that Saddam Hussein is making weapons of mass destruction, then I cannot support [the Iraqi regime]," he said.

Cruise was more careful, but seemed to echo his director's sentiments. "Personally I don't have all the information that President Bush has," he said. "But I believe Saddam has committed many crimes against humanity and the Iraqi people."

--We shoulda let Stormin Norman handle this last time...