Clinton Says Saddam Never Accounted for Weapons; Bush's Uranium Mistake Understandable

AP ^

[hole_n_one]

Jul 22, 2003

Clinton Says Saddam Never Accounted for Weapons; Bush's Uranium Mistake Understandable

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush's erroneous reference to an Iraqi-Africa uranium link was understandable, former President Clinton said Tuesday, in part because Saddam Hussein's regime had not accounted for some weapons by the time Clinton ended his term in 2001.

Clinton's comments reinforce one of the pillars of Bush's defense of the war in Iraq - that his Democratic predecessor was never satisfied that Saddam had rid himself of weapons of mass destruction.

"When I left office, there was a substantial amount of biological and chemical material unaccounted for," Clinton said on CNN's "Larry King Live."

Clinton said he never found out whether a U.S.-British bombing campaign he ordered in 1998 ended Saddam's capability of producing chemical and biological weapons. "We might have gotten it all, we might have gotten half of it, we might have gotten none of it," he said.

In his State of the Union speech in February justifying the planned war in Iraq, Bush referred to British intelligence reports that Saddam had tried to purchase uranium for nuclear weapons production. His administration says it now believes those reports were based in part on forged documents.

Clinton confined his remarks to biological and chemical weapons, and did not say whether he would consider credible any report that Saddam had wanted to build a nuclear weapons program.

Nonetheless, he suggested that Bush's mistake was par for the course - and that it was time to move on now that Bush had acknowledged the error.

"You know, everybody makes mistakes when they are president," he said. "I mean, you can't make as many calls as you have to without messing up once in a while. The thing we ought to be focused on is what is the right thing to do now."

Clinton said ending tensions in Iraq should be the priority now - another echo of the current White House's talking points. "We should be pulling for America on this. We should be pulling for the people of Iraq."

Clinton made his remarks as a call-in guest on a program observing the 80th birthday of Bob Dole, his rival for the White House in 1996.

AP-ES-07-22-03 2301EDT

[Pukin Dog]

Read my other comments on this thread for Clinton's agenda.

[ernie pantuso]

BTW, Clinton said that "We should be pulling for America on this. We should be for the people of Iraq." Do you and Pukin Dog disagree with this statement? Do you and Pukin Dog believe that he is lying about this?

[Humidston]

Holy God... I am afraid! Clinton siding with Bush??? No Way! I gotta read this baby for myself cuz I ain't believing your ping!

[Pukin Dog]

Ernie, suppose I'm walking down the street and I see a beautiful woman, and I say to her "You look wonderful."

Now, I would have just said something truthful, but that does not mean that I dont also have an 'agenda'.

Get it?

[anglian]

He just got back from Europe,where he spent a lot of time bashing this administration.

[ernie pantuso]

I have read your other comments. They entail: Clinton cutting off the '04 dem candidates at the knees, setting up his squeeze for '08, and your failing to bring a broad to Italy. Which of these was Clinton's agenda?

[rwfromkansas]

Wow. Good thought there.

I don't think Condi will take the fall, but Clinton may try it.....

Quite frankly, if Bush tries to pass this off on Condi (which I don't think he would under any condition), then I honestly would have to have serious second thoughts about voting for him in 2004.

[hole_n_one]

"We should be pulling for America on this. We should be for the people of Iraq." Do you and Pukin Dog disagree with this statement?

I can't speak for Pukin Dog, but personnally, yes, I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.

Do you and Pukin Dog believe that he is lying about this?

I can't speak for Pukin Dog, but personally, I doubt very much the veracity of any utternace that spews from Clinton's mouth.

[Humidston]

Bingo! You and I are of the same mindset! Boy Bill KNOWS Bush is telling the truth and the truth will out. He's simply covering his bases.

[Pukin Dog]

I would never bring a 'broad' to Italy. A woman, maybe? Anyway, the sun is up, and I'm out of here, so enjoy yourself.

[ernie pantuso]

Do you believe that Condi Rice is the only person that could defeat Pantload's wife in '08--assuming that GWB is reelected?

[xm177e2]

Maybe Clinton's trying to make up to the Democratic Party for all of the damage he's done to it.

[ernie pantuso]

Buona mattina! Ha un buon giorno!

[Pukin Dog]

Io volontà, grazie.

[ernie pantuso]

Prego, mi amico. I look forward to chatting with you again.

[Orion78]

He could be trying to burn the other democrats to clear the way for his wife...

[windchime]

"I don't think Condi will take the fall, but Clinton may try it....."

If I recall correctly, Clinton referred to three people BY NAME when he called in. They were Larry King, Bob Dole and Condi Rice.

The smear Condi theme has been running since the WMD lie deal began. It could hurt President Bush in 2004 and tarnishes Condi for 2008.

Also, any guesses about how another of his 'booby-traps' for the Bush administration might figure in here?

[Humidston]

I do. I think Condi is the most logical candidate to face off with the Hildebeast. Hillary! will win unless she has a female opponent, and a black opponent is our double bonus.

Condi would beat her.

[rwfromkansas]

No.

But she is the one I want to run. Despite her moderately pro-choice position, I can't help but love that woman!

[XHogPilot]

Who cares what that SOB opines!