"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." - President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program." - President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998

Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face." - Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten time since 1983." - Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18,1998

"[WE] urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." - Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI), Tom Daschle (D-SD), John Kerry( D - MA), and others Oct. 9,1998

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process." - Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

"There is no doubt that .. Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies." - Letter to President Bush, Signed by Sen. Bob Graham (D, FL,) and others, December 5, 2001

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandated of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them." - Sen. Carl Levin (D, MI), Sept. 19, 2002

"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." - Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." - Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confiden! t that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons..." - Sen. Robert Byrd (D, WV), Oct. 3, 2002

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force-- if necessary-- to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." - Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Oct. 9,2002

"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction."- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D, WV), Oct 10, 2002

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members.. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons." - Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002

"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime . He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real" - Sen. John F. Kerry (D, MA), Jan. 23. 2003

Knowing that no weapons have been found, why in the world would you still agree with those people?

Clinton did go after Iraq. Remember he bombed them in December 1998, as the impeachment business was coming to a close? The Republicans accused him of wagging the dog.

I ate whole box of Fruit Loops today, and i did it all by myself.

Well, wagging the dog, fucking the intern, dropping the bombs... these are all common presidential duties.

OK, so I don't agree with them.

But I think it's interesting that many of them sounded more hawkish than the Bush administration going into the Iraq War. Now, they're busy Monday Morning Quarterbacking.

These people will take whatever position seems possible at the time. They have no spine.

Just out of curiosity.......You don't think that other nations are allowed to possess nuclear weapons as does the states or you just want to be the bully on the block until you get your ass kicked?

Maybe they are sick of certain countries raping them for all they are worth and want to put up a deterrent to stop that from happening and greed from said countries spins stories in other directions so loving public gets scared and roots for the home team on yet another visiting game.

If a country has never invaded a neighbor, never used WMD on his own people and isn't currently being sanctioned by the UN ... produce all the nukes you want.

However, this skirts the point of this post.

How could Iraq be "the wrong war at the wrong time" and a "profound diversion" if "the threat of Saddam Hussein is real?"

Because all those people were wrong at the time. Now, I would say Kerry should go ahead and admit his mistake as a mistake instead of continued equivocation, but the problem I have with Bush is that he can't even recognize a mistake was made. So yes, lesser of two evils and all that shit, but it's the way it is, so people like me are stuck with John Kerry as our only viable option.

I agree pretty much in full. However, none of this is a reason to vote for Bush.

How sad will you be if Bush loses the election?

Seriously, are you part of his cabinet or something?

Do you have a wager on it?

*yawn*

Bush, Kerry, whomever wins, the country will go on with or without you.

It is a pretty good reason, I think, NOT to vote for Kerry

I won't cry. However, my friend and I already have tentative plans to move to "Free Iraq." I think I'd feel much safer there ...

and yes, I am joking. sort of.

I like your style

just not my politics, eh?

Carville/Matlin rides again!


Its like that with Prae and I as well.


No prob SOL! It is just politics after all!

Think about what you said on a common sense level. There is a big difference between say "The US, Canada, France Britiain, and Israel owning nukes, and say, Kim Jong Il, China,Iran, Cuba, Middle Eastern Nations, and Pakistan." Nukes suck in general. We wish they did not exitst. But certain nations deserve a lot more scrutiny for possesing them then others.