Bush is not the first to feel that Iraq had to be dealt with. Here are some quotes. Does it matter who said it?
"What if [Saddam] fails to comply
and we fail to act, or we take some
ambiguous third route, which gives
him yet more opportunities to
develop this program of weapons of
mass destruction? ... Well, he will
conclude that the international
community has lost its will. He will
then conclude that he can go right
on and do more to rebuild an arsenal
of devastating destruction. And some
day, some way, I guarantee you he'll
use the arsenal." - president Bill
Clinton, 1998.
At the time, Clinton said he "concluded then that the right thing to do was to use restraint and give Saddam one last chance to prove his willingness to cooperate. I made it very clear at that time what 'unconditional cooperation meant."
Earlier today I ordered America's armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces," Clinton said during his Oval Office address to the nation.
"Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical, and biological
weapons programs, and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors. Their purpose is to protect the national interest of the United States, and indeed the interests of people throughout the middle east and around the world," Clinton said.
I HAVE ORDERED A STRONG, SUSTAINED SERIES OF AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DEGRADE SADDAM'S CAPACITY TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, AND DEGRADE HIS ABILITY TO THREATEN HIS
NEIGHBORS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE DELIVERING A POWERFUL MESSAGE TO SADDAM, IF YOU ACT RECKLESSLY, YOU
WILL PAY A HEAVY PRICE.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Following is the text of President Clinton's statement on Iraq delivered Sunday. [15-Nov-1998]
Last night, Iraq agreed to meet the demands of the international community to cooperate fully with the United Nations weapons inspectors. Iraq committed to unconditional compliance. It rescinded its decisions of August and October to end cooperation with the inspectors. It withdrew its objectionable conditions.
In short, Iraq accepted its obligation to permit all activities of the
weapons inspectors, UNSCOM and the IAEA, to resume, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the U.N. Security Council. The United States, together with Great Britain, and with the support of our friends and allies around the world, was poised to act militarily if Iraq had not reversed course. Our willingness to strike, together with the overwhelming weight of world opinion, produced the outcome we preferred -- Saddam
Hussein reversing course, letting the inspectors go back to work without restrictions or conditions.
As I have said since this crisis began, the return of the inspectors, if they can operate in an unfettered way, is the best outcome, because they have been and they remain the most effective tool to uncover, destroy and prevent Iraq from rebuilding its weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them.
Now let me be clear. Iraq has backed down, but that is not enough. Now Iraq must live up to its obligations. Iraq has committed to unconditionally resume cooperation with the weapons inspectors. What does that mean? First, Iraq must resolve all outstanding issues raised by UNSCOM and the IAEA. Second, it must give inspectors unfettered access to inspect and to monitor all sites they choose, with no restrictions or qualifications, consistent with the memorandum of understanding Iraq itself signed with Secretary-General Annan in February. Third, it must turn over all relevant documents. Fourth, it must accept all weapons of mass destruction-related resolutions. Fifth, it must not interfere with the independence or the professional expertise of the weapons inspectors.
Last night, again, I confirmed with the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan that he shares these understandings of Iraq's obligations.
In bringing on this crisis, Iraq isolated itself from world opinion and opinion in the region more than at any time since the Gulf War.
The United Nations Security Council voted 15 to 0 to demand that Saddam Hussein reverse course. Eight Arab nations -- Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, five other Gulf states -- warned Saddam that Iraq alone would bare responsibility for the consequences of defying the United Nations.
The world spoke with one voice. Iraq must accept once and for all that the only path forward is complete compliance with its obligations to the world. Until we see complete compliance, we will remain vigilant, we will keep up the pressure, we will be ready to act.
This crisis also demonstrates, unfortunately once again, that Saddam Hussein remains an impediment to the well being of his people and a threat to the peace of his region and the security of the world.
We will continue to contain the threat that he poses by working for the elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capability under UNSCOM. Enforcing the sanctions of the no-fly zone. Responding firmly to any Iraqi provocation's.
However, over the long term, the best way to address that threat is through a government in Baghdad -- a new government that is committed to represent and respect its people, not repress them. That is committed to peace in the region.
Over the past year we have deepened our engagement with the forces of change in Iraq, reconciling the two largest Kurdish opposition groups, beginning broadcasts of a Radio Free Iraq throughout the country. We will intensify that effort, working with Congress to implement the Iraq Liberation Act, which was recently passed; strengthening our political support to make sure the opposition--or to do what we can to make the opposition a more effective voice for the aspirations of the Iraq people.
Let me say again, what we want and what we will work for is a government in Iraq that represents and respects its people -- not represses them. And one committed to live in peace with its neighbors. In the century we're leaving, America has often made the difference between tyranny and freedom
-- between chaos and community -- between fear and hope.
In this case, as so often in the past, the reason America can make this difference is the patriotism and professionalism of our military. Once again, it's strength, it's readiness, it's capacity, is advancing America's interests in the cause of world peace. We must remain vigilant, strong and ready -- here and wherever our interests and values are at stake. Thanks to our military we will be able to do so.
"In this century we learned through harsh experience that the only answer to aggression and illegal behavior is firmness, determination and, when necessary, action," Clinton said. "In the next century, the community of nations may see more and more the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists, drug traffickers, or organized criminals, who travel
the world among us unnoticed.
"If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow by the knowledge that they can act with impunity," he said.
As long as Saddam Hussein remains in power, he represents a threat to the well-being of his people, the peace of the region, and the security of the world. We will continue to contain the threat he poses, but over the long term the best way to address that threat is through a new government in Baghdad. To that end, we -- working with the Congress -- are deepening our engagement with the forces for change in Iraq to help
make the opposition a more effective voice for the aspirations of the Iraqi people
All these quotes were made by EX-President Clinton, do you honestly think that Saddam is less dangerous now than he was 4 years ago?
the rest of Canada has heard them do it so many times now, that we just block it out...
