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Check this out. The liar's own words.

CLINTON REMARKS TO THE ARAB WORLD, 18 December 1998 "

TEXT: CLINTON REMARKS TO THE ARAB WORLD, 18 December 1998
(President explains reasons for attack on Iraqi regime) (720)
Washington -- President Clinton has issued a statement to the people of the Arab world explaining the reasons behind U.S. military actions against the regime of Saddam Hussein.
"We believe this action is in the interest of the Iraqi people and all the people of the Middle East," he said.
Following is text of President's statement
(Begin text)
The White House Office of the Press Secretary
EMBARGOED FOR WEB USE UNTIL DECEMBER 18, 1998, 10PM EST
VIDEOTAPED REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE ARAB WORLD
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you for this opportunity to address America's friends throughout the Arab and the entire Islamic world. I want to explain why we have taken military action against Saddam Hussein, and why we believe this action is in the interests of the Iraqi people and all the people of the Middle East.
Saddam has ruled through a reign of terror against his own people and disregard for the peace of the region. His war against Iran cost at least half a million lives over 10 years. He gassed Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq. In 1990, his troops invaded Kuwait, executing those who resisted, looting the country, spilling tens of millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf, firing missiles at Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Israel and Qatar. He massacred thousands of his own people in an uprising in 1991.
As a condition for the Gulf War cease-fire, Iraq agreed to disclose and to destroy its weapons of mass destruction, and to demonstrate its willingness to live at peace with its neighbors. Iraq could have ended economic sanctions and isolation long ago by meeting these simple obligations. Instead, it has spent nearly eight years defying them. Saddam has failed to disclose information about his weapons arsenal. He has threatened his neighbors and refused to account for hundreds of Kuwaitis still missing from 1991.
Each time Saddam has provoked a crisis, we've tried hard to find a peaceful solution, consulting our friends in the Arab world and working through the United Nations. A month ago, we joined the other 14 members of the U.N. Security Council in demanding that Saddam come into compliance immediately. We supported what Iraq said it wanted -- a comprehensive review of its compliance after it resumed full cooperation with the U.N. weapons inspectors. And we were gratified when eight Arab nations -- Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Oman -- warned that Iraq would bear the blame -- Iraq alone would bear the blame for the consequences of defying the UN.
Now, I canceled a military strike when, at the last moment, Saddam promised to cooperate unconditionally with the inspectors. But this month, he broke his promises -- again, and again defied the U.N. So we had to act. Saddam simply must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons.
America understands that Saddam's first victims are his own people. That is why we exempted food and medicine when sanctions were imposed on Iraq. That is why, since 1991, we have offered to allow Iraq to sell its oil and use the proceeds to pay for humanitarian supplies. For five years, Saddam rejected that offer while building lavish palaces for himself and diverting resources to his military.
Finally, in 1996, Saddam allowed the oil-for-food program to take effect. Since then, the U.N. has delivered nearly $3 billion worth of food and medicine to the Iraqi people every year. Without the watchful eye of the U.N., we would soon see the oil-for-food program become oil for tanks, leading to less food for the Iraqi people and more danger for Iraq's neighbors.
No decision to use force is easy, especially at a time when I'm working so hard to build peace in the Middle East and to strengthen our own relations with the Arab world. My visit to Gaza last week reflected my deep commitment to the peace process. I will never forget the warm welcome I received from the Palestinian people, eager to shape their own future at last.
Let me also state my deep respect for the holy month of Ramadan. In the days ahead, I hope all Muslims will consider America's sincere desire to work with all people in the Middle East to build peace. We have the most profound admiration for Islam. Our dispute is with a leader who threatens Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
As the crescent moon rises, and the ninth month begins, Muslim-Americans -- and all Americans wish you the blessings of faith and friendship. May our prayers for a better world soon be answered. Ramadan Kareem.

U.S. Britain launch attack on Iraq

by Stuart A. Ibberson
Editor

President Clinton ordered air strikes against Iraq Dec. 16, in response to Saddam Hussein's continued defiance of U.N. weapons inspectors.

Military officials said the attack , which could last up to four days, began with a volley of long-range cruise missiles.

The president, speaking to the nation from the Oval Office, said he acted "to protect the national interest of the United States" and Iraq's neighbors in the Middle East.

"Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors with nuclear weapons, poison gas or biological weapons," he said.

The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, authorized British military involvement in the attack.

"British involvement will be significant," Blair said.

U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen, speaking at the Pentagon, said "The world knows it cannot trust Saddam Hussein. The world does know it can trust the United States.

"We did not use force lightly ... but Iraq has exhausted all patience," Cohen said.

During his address, Clinton said the air strikes were necessary now because the Moslem Holy Month of Ramadan starts this weekend, and "for us to initiate military action during Ramadan would be profoundly offensive to the Arab world."

As the air strikes were occuring, a divided U.N. Security Council was meeting to discuss a report by chief U.N. weapons inspector Richard Butler. The report concluded that Iraq had not kept its promise to cooperate with inspectors.

Butler's report said, in part, "Iraq did not provide the full cooperation it promised on Nov. 14, 1998. In addition, during the period under review, Iraq initiated new forms of restrictions upon the commission's work ..."

Currently, the Untied States has 24,100 troops; 22 ships, eight armed with Tomahawk Crusie missiles; and 201 military aircraft, among them 15 U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers based on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia. Additionally, the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group is en route to the region and is expected to arrive within two days.

The Associated Press reported that anti-aircraft guns opened fire in Baghdad after U.S. officials announced they had launched the airstrikes. "The Iraqi blasts created loud explosions over the Iraqi capital early Thursday," AP reported. "The explosions shattered the glass windows of the Information Ministry building near the center of Baghdad."

The British Broadcasting Corporation reported that "loud thuds were heard around Baghdad only minutes before confirmation of the attack came through.

"Constant rumbling in the distance could be heard from the center of the capital but it was relatively quiet in the city itself," the BBC report said.

On the subject of possible civilian casualties, Clinton said the Iraqi leader would bear full responsibility.

" ... in the past, Saddam has intentionally placed Iraqi civilians in harm's way in a cynical bid to sway international opinion," the president said.

"The hard fact is, that so long as Saddam remains in power, he threatens the well-being of his people, the peace of the region and security of the world.

"Heavy as they are, the costs of action must be weighed against the price of inaction," Clinton said. "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."

Reaction in Washington was mixed. While the Democratic leadership in Congress stood behind the president's action, some Republicans expressed cynicism.

Amazing how the proof and the smoking gun was there in 1998