Posted on 10/27/2004 8:07:42 PM PDT by Libloather
Clinton: Iraq has abused its final chance
American president defends timing and need for strikes
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, December 16) -- President Bill Clinton Wednesday defended his decision to order airstrikes against Iraq, saying Saddam Hussein had failed his "one last chance" to cooperate with United Nations resolutions. "So we've had to act and act now."
"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.
A showdown between the U.S. and Iraq six weeks ago, when again the military action was threatened, ended with Saddam Hussein's promise to give U.N. inspectors unconditional access to Iraqi facilities so they could determine if Iraq was rebuilding its biological, chemical and nuclear weapons programs.
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."
The American president said a report by inspectors to the U.N. over the weekend determined that Iraq had failed to fulfill that promise and had instead placed new restrictions on the inspections.
In response, Clinton gave the go ahead for "Operation Desert Fox."
Both directly and indirectly, Clinton addressed the impeachment crisis his presidency is currently facing. He defended the timing of strikes, which his critics have questioned...
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
http://clinton.senate.gov/speeches/iraq_101002.html
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weap ons 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."
Two Presidents have unquestionably noted the removal of the SH regime was not an option --- now Kerry wants to undo all of that, waste the lives spent for democracy and safety in the world, all the while, defiling our military and its mission, its troops and America in general.
Why does this money-drunk hippie go back to street corner protests...that is all he is qualified for.
Was it? The web is SO cool...
Bump...
FReegards...MUD
Clinton says attack on Iraq averted potential Iraqi aggression (12-17-98) Real: 28K | 56K, Windows Media: 28K | 56K
December 12, 1998
The committee approves a fourth article of impeachment on a party-line vote, accusing Clinton of abusing power in a direct parallel to Watergate-era language.
December 17, 1998
A last-minute stay of execution is offered to President Clinton as the Congress vote is postponed until the latest Gulf crisis is resolved and US military action against Iraq ends.
December 19, 1998
President Clinton is impeached as the Republican controlled House approves two of the four proposed articles of impeachment by narrow partisan majorities: 228-206 and 221-212. Mr Clinton is sent for trial in the Senate.
Mr Clinton resists calls to resign, pledging to fight to remain in the White House until "the last hour of the last day of my term".
I think he wrote a book about it. Time to make a purchase...
Today, I heard him bitchin' about some sort of American boondoggle. Have ya ever heard Effin' Kerry complain about what the UN has ever done?
My bet should be safe...
Did Barr do a book on the Impeachment process?! I'd like to read his version, too...MUD
Kerry LOVES the United Nations 'cuz they're a bunch of EffeteElitists just like him...it's US American lowlifes he LOATHES...MUD
Transcript: President Clinton explains Iraq strike
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/16/transcripts/clinton.html
Dec. 16, 1998
"Heavy as they are, the costs of action must be weighed against the price of inaction. If Saddam defies the world and we fail to respond, we will face a far greater threat in the future. Saddam will strike again at his neighbors. He will make war on his own people.
And mark my words, he will develop weapons of mass destruction. He will deploy them, and he will use them. "
And the here we have Yasser Arafat, the most visited 'foreign' celeb to have graced the *Crinton White House, on his death bed, as the impeached *One dons the Jewish yamaka and -
Clinton woos the Jewish vote
Former president says Kerry will remain ally of Israeli government.
By William E. Gibson / South Florida Sun-Sentinel
(Updated Wednesday, October 27, 2004, 10:59 AM)
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Greeted by cries of "Shalom!" and "We love you, Bill!" former President Bill Clinton plunged into the political tussle for South Florida's Jewish voters on Tuesday, one of several prominent visitors intent on tipping the balance of a very close presidential election.
The final scramble for voter support in Florida, the biggest swing state, has drawn candidates and their surrogates almost daily. While Clinton vouched for Democratic candidate John Kerry at the B'Nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton, Republican organizers brought in former New York Mayor Ed Koch, a Democrat, to tout President Bush at a rally at Boca Pointe.
Clinton, a major new force on the campaign trail, brought a charismatic presence, an emotional appeal to fervent Democrats and a knack for connecting with wavering voters. His mission on Tuesday was to persuade concerned Jewish voters that Kerry would remain a stout ally of Israel.
The former president made a dramatic entrance from the back of the temple, walking slowly and looking a bit wan.
After an introduction by Kerry's brother, Cameron Kerry, who talked about his own conversion to Judaism, Clinton stepped to a podium. He began in a low voice, characteristically cracking, which brought a crowd of 1,200 to a respectful hush. "There is no doubt in my mind that the security of Israel, including its qualitative military superiority, would be unshaken if he [Kerry] were president. You can rely on it, you can take it to the bank," Clinton said.
Clinton praised Israel's decision, approved by its parliament on Tuesday, to remove Israeli settlements from Gaza.
Bush backers questioned whether Clinton's visit will sway many voters. "People are not so foolish as to say, 'I'll vote for Kerry because of Bill Clinton,'" said Peter Lebowitz, president of the Boca Pointe Republican Outreach. "They like him and love him and may want to vote for him again, but he's not running. John Kerry is running."
A recent poll by the American Jewish Committee indicated that Bush — a staunch defender of the conservative Israeli government — has gained support from Jewish Americans since he received only 19% of the Jewish vote in 2000. The September poll of 1,000 Jewish-Americans found 69% favored Kerry and 24% favored Bush.
Is Arafat dead yet?! Good riddance...I pray his successor is less of a zealot...MUD
Bob Barr's Book and the Truth About the Clinton Impeachment
Written by Gary Aldrich
Thursday, August 05, 2004
It's said that those in power are the ones to write the history books, but this isn’t always true, according to the evidence. The few serious books about the Impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton were written by advocates for Clinton's removal from office.
The newest book is from former Congressman Bob Barr, a Republican from Georgia. Many have encouraged Mr. Barr to write his version of events because those who worked hard to bring Clinton’s high crimes misdemeanors to the attention of the public know that Congressman Barr was the insider who led the charge. Barr’s well-timed book is entitled, ''The Meaning of Is: The Squandered Impeachment and Wasted Legacy of William Jefferson Clinton.'' This 239-page hardcover is an objective answer to Bill Clinton’s recently released autobiography and is published by Stroud Hall.
I’ll disclose that I’m a good friend of former Congressman Barr. He was the first of the congressional leadership to support my efforts to surface serious wrongdoing in the Clinton White House, and he now serves on the legal advisory board of my Patrick Henry Center foundation.
When I first approached Congressman Barr and others with information about national security being damaged by Bill Clinton, Barr was an attentive listener. Barr’s interest in hearing what I had to say had nothing to do with suspicions about Clinton’s abhorrent sex-life but everything to do with Clinton’s abuse of power and the damage he was doing to our national security. Slowly, a plan to impeach Clinton was developed, in large part thanks to Barr’s efforts. By late fall of 1997, Barr had introduced legislation to begin the process. But in early 1998, the focus shifted immediately to Clinton’s reckless womanizing due to the revelations of Linda Tripp regarding Monica Lewinsky.
While the nation’s media was obsessed with Clinton’s sex life, Congressman Barr remained steadfast in his quest to hold Clinton accountable for the damage done to our national defense. He knew what else Clinton had done, and it was much worse!
The 9/11 Commission confirms in its report what Barr and few others knew in 1995, the year I left the White House--the nation as a whole had little concern for national security. But Congressman Barr, having spent years working for the C.I.A., understood the ramifications of Clinton’s high and low antics. Clinton’s policies and behavior placed us in grave danger. His sexual proclivities distracted him from important matters of his presidency. Of course his defense against the claims that he had violated the precious trust placed in him by voters consumed much of his attention. But Barr makes a persuasive case that even if Clinton wasn’t chasing Monica or trying to lie about it to protect himself, he would not have given any more attention to the growing problem of Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda.
Barr’s book is an easy and enjoyable read. It takes the reader behind the scenes into the corridors of power and exposes the weak politicians on both sides of the aisle who failed to hold Clinton liable. They let Clinton off the hook, not because Clinton was falsely accused, but because his removal from office would have taken the political establishment into uncharted waters and that made them very afraid.
Former Congressman Barr describes the brave thirteen House Managers who stepped forward to move the case to impeach Clinton into a hostile Senate environment. They knew from the beginning that the “fix” was in and that Clinton would never be removed from office. They also knew that their duty would bring them much scorn and retribution. With their political careers on the line, they marched forth because each of them had a greater vision for this country.
The 9/11 Commission Report makes a point that one reason we were attacked so easily by Al Qaeda in 2001 was because the nation lacked leaders with imagination. The commission had it half right. We have such leaders. Bob Barr and his fellow House Managers not only had the imagination, they also had the goods on Bill Clinton, and, more importantly, they possessed the political courage to bring Clinton to justice. There should be monuments to these men and their courage. If we were a nation who really embraced a vision for a better government as our founders’ intended, those monuments would be in place, and well visited. But for whatever reason, our nation’s vision of itself as a “Shining City on a Hill”, as Ronald Reagan so wonderfully put it, is in remission.
However, there are those like Bob Barr who believe that this remission is a temporary circumstance.
These men of reason--most of them lawyers--had seen all the evidence against Clinton, not just about his antics with Monica. They knew Clinton had weakened this country’s defenses for a possible terrorist attack, practically inviting acts of blatant espionage. Having that knowledge drove them to press on in spite of tremendous political pressures. They tried to warn the nation by holding Clinton responsible. But it was the U.S. Senate leaders who lacked both imagination and political courage. They could not imagine what might happen if Clinton was actually removed. They were afraid their own careers would be negatively impacted somehow. They never understood that such publicly displayed political weakness not only encourages our enemies but also gives license to an abusive executive.
After he had escaped removal from office, Bill Clinton knew he had been given a blank check.
Bob Barr believes our nation would have easily survived the removal of Bill Clinton for good cause, and he knew it would have been made stronger in the process. But most of our current political leadership could never imagine that, so they voted to maintain the status quo. In this his first book, Bob Barr, clearly a man of vision, makes his case for political courage in a well organized, thoughtful recording of what really happened when William Jefferson Clinton was impeached in 1998.
About the Writer: Gary Aldrich is the author of "Unlimited Access" and "Thunder on the Left," and is president and founder of the Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty, whose website is at http://www.patrickhenrycenter.org.
FReegards...MUD
I vividly remember Desert Fox, Clinton's mistimed (over a year late), misplanned 4-day distraction from his Impeachment--a conflict which Clinton enacted knowing that it's limited, neutered scope would only embolden the Hussein regime's pursual of weapons of mass destruction.
The dog was wagged, and Iraq was forgotten by Herr KLINTON.
Anyway, I've been arguing with Leftists who claim that Bush is (in the words of tin-foil Kucinich) "targeting civilians" in Iraq. I always wanted to counter that with the actions of every Leftist's fave ex-Prez in 1998, but I can't get the info I need to present the case.
Can anybody tell me exactly How many Iraqi civilians were killed during the illogical Clinton raids? I've heard anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred.
I've always wondered about this, but no google search I've done has succeeding in putting a human casulalty toll to the bombing. I guess the number of dead Iraqi's only matters when a Republican is dropping the bombs.
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weap ons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program.
No he didn't, John Kerry said so and I believe him...or not, one MUST be flexible on these matters.
And the reverse is true.
Hey ya gotta love an org that puts Syria on the human rights commission.
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