Bush ordered 'contingency' plan for confronting Iraq during Afghan war

AP | 3/24/04

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush directed the Pentagon to develop plans to confront Iraq if it tried to exploit the U.S. military's engagement with Afghanistan in fall 2001, a White House official said Wednesday.

But spokesman Scott McClellan insisted the "contingency" plan was not a blueprint for a full-scale invasion of Iraq, as Bush's former counterterrorism chief contends in a new book.

"Obviously, it was important to have contingencies in place in case Iraq tried to take advantage of the president's military action in Afghanistan," McClellan said.

Moreover, Iraq had been firing for years at American pilots patroling the no-fly zone there, McClellan said.

But he stressed that the decision to invade Iraq a year ago "came much later."

Any suggestion that Bush was drawing up plans in 2001 for the Iraq war he launched in March 2003 is "revisionist history," McClellan said.

Clarke wrote in the book that Bush was preoccupied with Iraq before and after the attacks, at the expense of fighting al-Qaida. Bush asked him just after the Sept. 11 terror attacks to find out whether Iraq was involved in the suicide hijackings, Clarke wrote.

The White House has bristled at the suggestion that Bush planned to invade Iraq before March 2003 -- an accusation that former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, another administration official now critical of Bush, also made in a recent book.

[Mo1]

WOW .. that was a long trial

You didn't sign up for the unlimited access??

[kcvl]

Transcript: Senator Joe Lieberman Floor Statement on Iraq
Sept. 13, 2002


http://www.why-war.com/news/2002/09/13/senatorj.html

[Howlin]

When I first signed up, that was it! When somebody finally "talked" me onto AT&T, I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

[Aggie Mama]

Let's see, Bush is condemned for not preemptively attacking Afghanistan before 911 based on available intelligence but is also condemned for attacking Iraq preemptively based on available intelligence. Is that about right?

I need to go wrap my head in duct tape again. How is this country ever going to survive?

[Texasforever]

Did today wrap up the public testimony?

[Texasforever]

Back in my dial-up days I never spent more that 10 bucks a month and most of the time I used free providers.

[cookcounty]

off topic but I can't help it. There are 60 news stories on the FR sidebar right now. NONE of them is about anything current in Iraq. Is that not an interesting fact?

[kcvl]

11/02/98

CLINTON ON SIGNING THE "IRAQ LIBERATION ACT OF 1998" OCT. 31

(Backing elements advocating very different future for Iraq)

Washington -- President Clinton October 31 signed into law H.R. 4655, the "Iraq Liberation Act of 1998."

"This Act," the President said, "makes clear that it is the sense of the Congress that the United States should support those elements of the Iraqi opposition that advocate a very different future for Iraq than the bitter reality of internal repression and external aggression that the current regime in Baghdad now offers.

"Let me be clear," Clinton said, "what the U.S. objectives are:

"The United States wants Iraq to rejoin the family of nations as a freedom-loving and law-abiding member. This is in our interest and that of our allies within the region.

"The United States favors an Iraq that offers its people freedom at home. I categorically reject arguments that this is unattainable due to Iraq's history or its ethnic or sectarian make-up. Iraqis deserve and desire freedom like everyone else.

The President said that the United States "looks forward to a democratically supported regime that would permit us to enter into a dialogue leading to the reintegration of Iraq into normal international life."

Clnton noted that his Administration "has pursued, and will continue to pursue, these objectives through active application of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The evidence is overwhelming that such changes will not happen under the current Iraq leadership."

The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, he said, "provides additional, discretionary authorities under which my Administration can act to further the objectives I outlined above. There are, of course, other important elements of U.S. policy. These include the maintenance of U.N. Security Council support efforts to eliminate Iraq's prohibited weapons and missile programs and economic sanctions that continue to deny the regime the means to reconstitute those threats to international peace and security. United States support for the Iraqi opposition will be carried out consistent with those policy objectives as well."

Following is the White House text:

(Begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

October 31, 1998

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Today I am signing into law H.R. 4655, the "Iraq Liberation Act of 1998." This Act makes clear that it is the sense of the Congress that the United States should support those elements of the Iraqi opposition that advocate a very different future for Iraq than the bitter reality of internal repression and external aggression that the current regime in Baghdad now offers.

Let me be clear on what the U.S. objectives are:

The United States wants Iraq to rejoin the family of nations as a freedom-loving and law-abiding member. This is in our interest and that of our allies within the region.

The United States favors an Iraq that offers its people freedom at home. I categorically reject arguments that this is unattainable due to Iraq's history or its ethnic or sectarian make-up. Iraqis deserve and desire freedom like everyone else.

The United States looks forward to a democratically supported regime that would permit us to enter into a dialogue leading to the reintegration of Iraq into normal international life.

My Administration has pursued, and will continue to pursue, these objectives through active application of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The evidence is overwhelming that such changes will not happen under the current Iraq leadership.

In the meantime, while the United States continues to look to the Security Council's efforts to keep the current regime's behavior in check, we look forward to new leadership in Iraq that has the support of the Iraqi people. The United States is providing support to opposition groups from all sectors of the Iraqi community that could lead to a popularly supported government.

On October 21, 1998, I signed into law the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, which made $8 million available for assistance to the Iraqi democratic opposition. This assistance is intended to help the democratic opposition unify, work together more effectively, and articulate the aspirations of the Iraqi people for a pluralistic, participa--tory political system that will include all of Iraq's diverse ethnic and religious groups. As required by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY 1998 (Public Law 105-174), the Department of State submitted a report to the Congress on plans to establish a program to support the democratic opposition. My Administration, as required by that statute, has also begun to implement a program to compile information regarding allegations of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes by Iraq's current leaders as a step towards bringing to justice those directly responsible for such acts.

The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 provides additional, discretionary authorities

under which my Administration can act to further the objectives I outlined above. There are, of course, other important elements of U.S. policy. These include the maintenance of U.N. Security Council support efforts to eliminate Iraq's prohibited weapons and missile programs and economic sanctions that continue to deny the regime the means to reconstitute those threats to international peace and security. United States support for the Iraqi opposition will be carried out consistent with those policy objectives as well.

Similarly, U.S. support must be attuned to what the opposition can effectively make use of as it develops over time. With those observations, I sign H.R. 4655 into law.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON

THE WHITE HOUSE,

October 31, 1998.

(End text)

[StriperSniper]

It really should be that simple.

[Carolinamom]

You're the best! What a neat site. Thanks for pointing me to it. I will email this speech of his to Lieberman if he DARES support Clarke's libelous remarks.

[Texasforever]

If I were GW, I would make a national speech with that contradiction as the subject. It is tailor made to highlight the sheer political motivation behind this "search for the truth".

[nopardons]

Ahhhhhhhhhh...the paper trail is growing. :-)

[Mo1]

When I first signed up, that was it!

You're right .. they came up with the unlimited access later .. I forgot

I first got a computer in 93 and later signed up with Prodigy but I could NEVER figure that out and was in heaven when AOL came along

WOW .. I've been sitting in front of this computer for that long?? .. I think I need to find a life .. ROFL

[yoe]

Good catch....

(12) On May 1, 1998, President Clinton signed Public Law 105-174, which made $5,000,000 available for assistance to the Iraqi democratic opposition for such activities as organization, training, communication and dissemination of information, developing and implementing agreements among opposition groups, compiling information to support the indictment of Iraqi officials for war crimes, and for related purposes.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD IRAQ.

It should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime.

(Iraq Liberation Act of 1998)

[Howlin]

You've been online longer than you've had children!

[Texasforever]

You know what would be a real hoot. Given that he felt empowered to apologize for the entire government and then for himself personally, what would stop some 911 family suing his butt off for negligence? He admitted under oath that he failed to protect those that died that day.

[nopardons]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm...I may suggest just THAT to the relatives of those murdered on 9/11,that I know. Thankfully, I didn't lose a family member that day, but I lost friends,as did many people I know.

[Mo1]

Nope .. I got my first computer when my oldest was born .. it was so that I could work from home .. my old boss wouldn't let me quit ..

[Howlin]

I am not sure; I heard them say they'd be back on April 15th, but it's not about this; it's something else.......and right now I can't remember what.

[yoe]

"The military makes contingency plans for all kinds of hypotheticals, always has, always should" Not just the military, but most business's and corporations have contingency plans - which puts the "talking points" from Pelosi, Clinton and the rest "they don't have an exit plan - what is the exit plan" sort of puts the lie to that doesn't it.