Former President Bush defends his and son's Iraqi policies (Last Night)

ctnow ^ | 1/27/2003 | Associated Press

[TLBSHOW]

Former President Bush defends his and son's Iraqi policies STAMFORD, Conn. -- Former President George Bush, accepting an award Monday night for his contributions to world affairs, defended his decision 12 years ago to not remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq, an issue now facing his son, the current president. John D. Negroponte, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, presented Bush with the World Affairs Forum's sixth annual Altschul Award, at a ceremony in Stamford. "Iraq is back to business as usual," Negroponte said. "Time is running out for Iraq to peacefully disarm." Bush said the world faces "trying times" with economic instability in Latin America and unpredictability in the Middle East. Bush reminded the audience of 450 of a joke he often told after leaving office in 1993: "Life's not fair. I'm unemployed and Saddam Hussein still has his job." "It's not funny anymore, especially when you consider the depth of his brutality and aggression against his own people," the former president said. Bush said he halted Operation Desert Storm short of removing Saddam from power because he said he completed his objectives. "Our assignment was to end the aggression. We tried to do it peacefully. We tried to do it diplomatically. And then we had to fight the mother of all battles. We fought it in the most sanitary way we could, being sure not to target civilians," he said. To do more militarily would have risked support from the U.S.-led international coalition, Bush said. "I believe we would have lost faith with our allies," he said. Bush said President Bush faces tough decisions, but did not say if he now supports removing Saddam. "Our son faces a tough call," he said. The former president said he is wounded when critics call his son a warmonger. "They've hurt this loving, proud father very much," Bush said. "I would tell you from the bottom of my heart that the president is giving peace a chance."

[meandog]

"Dubyah, Dubyah, he's my son...he'll do the job I shoulda done!"

[SevenofNine]

I saw this speech on Hannity and Colmes I get this feeling that Dubya take on Mama Barbara side of the family on his views of the world

I think Bush Sr realize I think I shouldn't never let Saddam stay in the power

I got the feeling too Mr Bush Sr

[ricpic]

It seems to be a Bush family trait to suffer fools endlessly. For anyone who did not catch his speech (a long live excerpt was shown on Hannity & Colmes), George H. W. Bush went on and on about his clergyman's stand against war. This is one of those idiots who are against war absolutely, under all circumstances. The former president was full of understanding for this dangerous fool: "I'm sure he's a good man, a man of integrity, nobility, blah blah blah," until finally getting to the but part.
To a lesser extent (blessedly) GW partakes of the same trait. Iraq should have been taken out six months ago. But n-o-o-o. All the fools had to be listened to, and worse, their idiot suggestions to go slow, get "the international community" behind us, not race into anything, etcetera, have, to some extent been complied with.
The result: A more dangerous Iraq (more time to work on their WMDs) and a weaker US and world economy (paralyzed until we get this thing behind us).

[McGruff]

I shouldn't never let Saddam stay in the power

That was not the mission's objective. It was to get SADDAM Hussein out of Kuwait. He accomplished that mission.

We could have gone all the way to Baghdad but that was not our goal. The same people whom criticize him now for not finishing the job would have criticized him then for exceeding his mandate during the Gulf War.

[McGruff]

It seems to be a Bush family trait to suffer fools endlessly

Please explain what you are trying to say. Are calling former Pres. Bush a fool?

To a lesser extent (blessedly) GW partakes of the same trait

And current Pres. Bush?

[Willie Green]

The same people whom criticize him now for not finishing the job would have criticized him then for exceeding his mandate during the Gulf War.

"Don't hit at all if you can help it; don't hit a man if you can possibly avoid it; but if you do hit him, put him to sleep."

-- Teddy Roosevelt, New York City, February 17, 1899

[dixiechick2000]

41's biggest problem is that he went to the UN first. I think he sees that, now. And, I think that is why 43 stayed away from the UN as long as he did.

In Gulf War I, the UN drove... In Gulf War II, the US is driving.

[ricpic]

I was trying to say (awkwardly perhaps) that both George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush are too patient with fools who counsel either against war altogether, or against what they (the fools) call "rushing into" war.
Don't forget that GW has said several times that time is not on our side. I believe him. Then why are we going slow? I think, largely because, in order to be reasonable with fools, he has been moving at a glacial pace.

[meandog]

That was not the mission's objective. It was to get SADDAM Hussein out of Kuwait. He accomplished that mission. We could have gone all the way to Baghdad but that was not our goal. The same people whom criticize him now for not finishing the job would have criticized him then for exceeding his mandate during the Gulf War.

...Begging your pardon, but I distinctly remember "Bush the Elder" telling the people of America in 1991 that Saddam was to be toppled. He had all the resources to do it, yet couldn't/wouldn't commit.
When I set out to take Vienna, I intend to take Vienna--Napolean Bonaparte

[McGruff]

time is not on our side

Thanks for the clarification. I am just as fustrated as everybody else at having to jump through all of these hoops before we do what we have to do.

But each day we get more and more resources over there and when it starts they will say holy sh*t!

[what's up]

On the contrary, I found Bush very tough on the bishops.

I was glad to hear the criticism.

[what's up]

Criticism against Bush Sr. wasn't so fierce immediately following the Gulf War. On the contrary, the public admired him for beating Iraq, and beating them decisively.

It's only after 8 years of Clinton/Gore bashing Reagan/Bush that the criticism about not toppling Hussein is part of the national fabric. What damage the hillbillies in the 90's did!