Re: ASSERT macro

So I'm using Visual Studio version 9 (codename Orcas). I created a
Win32 project (empty project) with a main.cpp containing the source
snippet below.

# include <iostream>
# include <cassert>

int main() {

  int m_var1 = 5 ;
  int m_var2 = 4 ;

  assert ( m_var1 == m_var2 ) ;

}

The intent of my experiment surrounds being able to turn-off the
assert macro.

According to Microsoft's documention:

'ASSERT and _ASSERTE are only available when _DEBUG is defined. When
_DEBUG is not defined, calls to these macros are removed during
preprocessing.'

'The compiler defines _DEBUG when you specify the /MTd or /MDd option.
These options specify debug versions of the C run-time library.'

So under the properties tab (right click on project -> select
properties) I removed '_DEBUG' from the Command Line options. I also
turned on optimization then changed the Runtime Library flag from /MTd
to /MT.

When I run the program I get :
Assertion failed: m_var1 == m_var2, file .\main.cpp, line 11

This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an
unusual way.
Please contact the application's support team for more information.
Press any key to continue . . .

The question. Why do I get the assertion error when I deliberately
turn off assertion checks? Then again, how do I achieve my objection
of turning off the assert checks? Clearly I'm doing something
wrong.