Post by ZenIsWhenCan I list the tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis that were murdereed in
Bush's illegal war?
No, because the war isn't illegal. In fact, the following people
AUTHORIZED the war, thus making it quite legal according to our
Constitution:
Kerry Said "If You Don't Believe In The U.N. ... Or You Don't Believe Saddam
Hussein Is A Threat With Nuclear Weapons, Then You Shouldn't Vote For Me."
(Ronald Brownstein, "On Iraq, Kerry Appears Either Torn Or Shrewd," Los
Angeles Times, 1/31/03)
Kerry Said Leaving Saddam Hussein "Unfettered With Nuclear Weapons Or
Weapons Of Mass Destruction Is Unacceptable." (Jill Lawrence, "War Issue
Challenges Democratic Candidates," USA Today, 2/12/03)
Kerry Defended Vote In Support Of Use Of Force In Iraq." "I think Saddam
Hussein's weapons of mass destruction are a threat, and that's why I voted
to hold him accountable and to make certain that we disarm him. I think we
need to, but it's not September 11th, folks, and the fact is that what we've
learned is that the war on terror is much more of an intelligence operation
and a law enforcement operation." (Sen. John Kerry As Quoted On NPR's "All
Things Considered," 3/19/03)
Kerry Said We Owe It To US Troops To Be Informed Of Saddam Hussein's WMD
Arsenal. "We owe it to America's parents and our country's troops . to have
our decision on going to war with Iraq informed by the latest threat
assessment that cross-analyzes agency intelligence about Saddam Hussein's
arsenal of weapons of mass destruction." (Faye Bowers, "Iraq's Pursuit Of
Nuclear Weapons Called 'Unrelenting'," Deseret News, 9/18/02)
Kerry Said Threat Of Saddam Hussein's WMD Is Real. "The threat of Saddam
Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but as I said, it is not
new. It has been with us since the end of that war, and particularly in the
last 4 years we know after Operation Desert Fox failed to force him to
reaccept them, that he has continued to build those weapons. He has had a
free hand for 4 years to reconstitute these weapons, allowing the world,
during the interval, to lose the focus we had on weapons of mass destruction
and the issue of proliferation." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record,
10/9/02, p. S10171)
Kerry Said Saddam's Arsenal Of WMD Is Cause Of War. "As bad as he is, Saddam
Hussein, the dictator, is not the cause of war. Saddam Hussein sitting in
Baghdad with an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction is a different
matter." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 10/9/02, p. S10173)
Kerry Wished For Resolution More Focused On The Removal Of Iraq's WMD. "The
President said: Saddam Hussein must disarm himself, or, for the sake of
peace, we will lead a coalition to disarm him. This statement left no doubt
that the casus belli for the United States will be Iraq's failure to rid
itself of weapons of mass destruction. I would have preferred that the
President agree to the approach drafted by Senators Biden and Lugar because
that resolution would authorize the use of force for the explicit purpose of
disarming Iraq and countering the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass
destruction." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 10/9/02, p. S10173)
Kerry Said U.S. Should Make Clear We Will Not Be Blackmailed By Iraq's WMD.
"I believe the Senate will make it clear, and the country will make it
clear, that we will not be blackmailed or extorted by these weapons, and we
will not permit the United Nations an institution we have worked hard to
nurture and create to simply be ignored by this dictator." (Sen. John Kerry,
Congressional Record, 10/9/02, p. S10174)
http://www.cnn.com/US/9812/16/clinton.iraq.speech/
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- From the Oval Office, President Clinton told the nation
Wednesday evening why he ordered new military strikes against Iraq.
The president said Iraq's refusal to cooperate with U.N. weapons inspectors
presented a threat to the entire world.
"Saddam (Hussein) must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world
with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons," Clinton said.
Operation Desert Fox, a strong, sustained series of attacks, will be carried
out over several days by U.S. and British forces, Clinton said.
"Earlier today I ordered America's armed forces to strike military and
security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces," Clinton said.
"Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons
programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors," said Clinton.
Clinton also stated that, while other countries also had weapons of mass
destruction, Hussein is in a different category because he has used such
weapons against his own people and against his neighbors.
The Iraqi leader was given a final warning six weeks ago, Clinton said, when
Baghdad promised to cooperate with U.N. inspectors at the last minute just
as U.S. warplanes were headed its way.
"Along with Prime Minister (Tony) Blair of Great Britain, I made it equally
clear that if Saddam failed to cooperate fully we would be prepared to act
without delay, diplomacy or warning," Clinton said.
The president said the report handed in Tuesday by Richard Butler, head of
the United Nations Special Commission in charge of finding and destroying
Iraqi weapons, was stark and sobering.
Iraq failed to cooperate with the inspectors and placed new restrictions on
them, Clinton said. He said Iraqi officials also destroyed records and moved
everything, even the furniture, out of suspected sites before inspectors
were allowed in.
"Instead of inspectors disarming Saddam, Saddam has disarmed the
inspectors," Clinton said.
"In halting our airstrikes in November, I gave Saddam a chance -- not a
license. If we turn our backs on his defiance, the credibility of U.S. power
as a check against Saddam will be destroyed," the president explained.
Clinton said he made the decision to strike Wednesday with the unanimous
agreement of his security advisors.
Timing was important, said the president, because without a strong
inspection system in place, Iraq could rebuild its chemical, biological and
nuclear programs in a matter of months, not years.
"If Saddam can cripple the weapons inspections system and get away with it,
he would conclude the international community, led by the United States, has
simply lost its will," said Clinton. "He would surmise that he has free rein
to rebuild his arsenal of destruction."
Clinton also called Hussein a threat to his people and to the security of
the world.
"The best way to end that threat once and for all is with a new Iraqi
government -- a government ready to live in peace with its neighbors, a
government that respects the rights of its people," Clinton said.
Such a change in Baghdad would take time and effort, Clinton said, adding
that his administration would work with Iraqi opposition forces.
Clinton also addressed the ongoing impeachment crisis in the White House.
"Saddam Hussein and the other enemies of peace may have thought that the
serious debate currently before the House of Representatives would distract
Americans or weaken our resolve to face him down," he said.
"But once more, the United States has proven that although we are never
eager to use force, when we must act in America's vital interests, we will
do so."
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