Bill Clinton Recommends U.S. Patience on Iraq

Reuters ^ | February 11, 2003 | Staff

[AntiGuv]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said in an interview broadcast on Tuesday the United States should exercise patience in its standoff with Iraq to help build allied support for a potential strike.

Clinton told NBC's Today Show he did not believe war in Iraq was inevitable so long as Iraqi President Saddam Hussein opts to disarm.

While stressing a second U.N. resolution was not strictly necessary, the former president said the United States ought to take pains to repair a growing rift with allies Germany, France and Russia over the need for war.

"What I hope will happen is that we will let the process play out enough to maximize our international support. I would really like to see the whole U.N. with us, and I think there is a chance they will be," he said in the taped interview.

"I think they will come around, if they believe that we gave the whole inspection and U.N. process a fair chance. ... We need to look like we're determined but not eager to go to war."

Clinton called Secretary of State Colin Powell's Feb. 5 presentation to the United Nations "quite effective, as he always is," and praised the Bush administration for making use of the international body.

"I think the patience that has been shown so far is good," he said.

[AntiGuv]

In case anyone was lying awake nights wondering...

[steve-b]

Bill Clinton Recommends U.S. Patience on Iraq

Steve-B Recommends Clinton Shut Up And Go Away

[dirtboy]

Memo to Clinton:

SHUTUPNOONEGIVESARATSASSWHATYOUTHINKGODIDDLEANINTERNORSELLCHELSEATOTHECHICOMSFORCAMPAIGNCASHJUSTGETOUTOFOURFACELEAVEUSALONEGOPOUNDSANDGOSUCKCHEESEBLOWITOUTYOURCLYMERKISSOFFGETLOSTBUYAONEWAYTICKETTOSOMESTALINISTDICTATORSHIPWHEREYOUWILLFEELATHOMEANDTAKEHILLARYWITHYOU

[Semper Paratus]

Remind Clinton that the current US policy on regime change for Iraq came from him.

[Lexington Green]

This was Clinton's policy after the 1st WTC in '93.... It led us to 911

[goodnesswins]

x42 was on the "Today Show?" Why? As an expert? On what?....wait...don't anyone here answer that!

[hellinahandcart]

Didn't he say last week that we had to get rid of Saddam even if we had to go it alone?

HE is remarkably consistent in his inconsistence.

[eureka!]

A small man getting smaller every day. The legacy is still being written and it is not pretty....

[1Old Pro]

Yep, he let's OBL and Saddam develop and train for over 4 years to the point where they are attacking us on U.S. soil and he pushes for patience??? I have no patience for Klintoon the french/germans or saddam.

[Lee Heggy]

"if they believe"..."We need to look like"..."but not"

and it ALL depends on what 'is' is.

[Kathleen]

This was Clinton's policy after the 1st WTC in '93.... It led us to 911

bump

[hellinahandcart]

My bad, I double-checked the article and he did NOT say that.

[freedomson]

Was he getting a 'paint job' while he was waxing?

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Memo to self: What ever Slick Willie recommends, do the opposite.

[Toddsterpatriot]

That goes double for me.

[mhking]

As if anyone gave a rat's a$$....

[Huck]

The legacy is still being written and it is not pretty....

That appears to be true. Just the opposite of what is happening with President Reagan.

[freekitty]

Bubba, you had your chance. Now, please stay out of this and let the real leaders lead.

[AmericanInTokyo]

AmericanInTokyo recommends Bill Clinton STFU.

[TheBattman]

Should read:

"Bill Clinton reccomends that GW find an intern, get a "hummer" from her, then lob a few cruise missiles at an aspirin factory..it will solve all your problems."