As I recall, they weren't clearly stating that. They were stating that they found no evidence of WMDs, but the Iraqis weren't being sufficiently cooperative for

As I recall, they weren't clearly stating that. They were stating that they found no evidence of WMDs, but the Iraqis weren't being sufficiently cooperative for them to be certain. In retrospect, it seems like Saddam was trying to maintain some strategic ambiguity as to whether or not he had WMDs and relying on not having them to dissuade any war attempt, but the Bush administration was interpreting the evidence in the light most favorable to a case for war.