Full Text of Pelosi's Crazy Anti-War Statement Today

C-SPAN Archives ^ | 4/10/03 | Transcribed by xm177e2

[xm177e2]

This is the last question from the press conference:

Reporter: Ms. Pelosi, in this very room, your predecesor, Mr. Gephardt, told us (and probably on other occasions) that he, I don't know if he used the word 'regretted,' but he would have changed his vote back in 1991, on the Persian Gulf resolution. And you've been very thoughtful here today, but, looking at those pictures from Baghdad of yesterday, was there not a moment where you though, you know what, it's been worth it, I mean these people are celebrating, apparently spontaneously was there any, any thought in your mind that this was all worth it?

Pelosi: [shaking head] No, no. Not my, you mean my 1991 vote? Let me talk about 199--

Reporter: No, I'm referring to the fact that Mr. Gephardt, after 10 years, looked back on that occasion.

Pelosi: Well let me start with that. Because you know what that vote was in 1991? It was a vote in which we voted with Sam Nunn, in order to give the sanctions a few more weeks to work. So now it's advertised it's presented as a vote for or against the war and it's just about giving the sanctions more time to work, and those of us who voted against going to war at that time were in the company of some great Americans who have been very strong on defense and not ever hesitant to use force when they thought it was the appropriate recourse.

I have absolutely no regret about my vote on this war. The same questions remain: The cost in human lives, the cost to our budget: probably a hundred billion dollars. We could have probably brought down that statue for a lot less. The cost, to our economy. But the most imporant question at this time, now that we're toward the end of it, is: what is the cost to the war on terrorism? So do we want the Iraqi people to be free? Absolutely? Promoting democratic values is a pillar, as I said earlier, a pillar of our foreign policy. Do we have to go to war to do that? Maybe so. I didn't think so. And I don't know, when you say, is it worth it, are those lives worth it?

As I said, we have a strong military. And by the way, I may say, because of some of the actions taken by President Clinton. This best-trained, best-equipped, best-led force for peace in the history of the world was not invented in the last two years. This had a strong influence and strong support during the Clinton years. So, no I have no regret about my vote. My only regret is that weren't able to stop the war. And that there wasn't a better way to stop the spread of the weapons of mass destruction which was the purpose of our going in to Iraq as it was explained to me. So, again, we mourn the loss of those who gave their lives, we are eternally grateful fpr those who lost their limbs. And I met many of them at Bethesda Naval Hospital earlier this week. It isn't adequate to ever thank them enough.

And once the president decided to go in, as I've said to you before, it was one team one fight. It was never any question about it and I never second-guessed any of the plans that the administration had. But I will be very happy, as every person in American is when it's all over.

[xm177e2]

Nancy Pelosi says we probably could have freed the Iraqi people and brought down the Saddam state for a lot less than $100,000,000,000, if we hadn't gone to war. I'm very curious as to her ideas on how we could have freed the Iraqi people and deposed Saddam without resorting to military force. And I'm curious as to why anyone cares what she thinks was a worthwhile price to pay for the liberation of Iraq, while the Iraqi people obviously consider it to have been an acceptable price.

(look for "House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (04/10/2003)" and go to 24 minutes or so into the video to hear the last question)

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[Nachum]

And people wonder why the Republicans and Democrats hated each other after the civil war.

[maro]

Saddam was waiting for us to say "please."

[plain talk]

that vote was in 1991? It was a vote in which we voted with Sam Nunn, in order to give the sanctions a few more weeks to work. So now it's advertised it's presented as a vote for or against the war

That's not my recollection. Kuwait was invaded in August and the vote was maybe in Jan/Feb? Few more weeks? No way. But the real issue that after all we know now, the WMDs, the torture, all of it, with hindsight, she is still opposing the 1991 war. Incredible that this person is even in office much less than the minority leader in the House. Hope she keeps talking.

[RaiderRose]

"As I said, we have a strong military. And by the way, I may say, because of some of the actions taken by President Clinton. This best-trained, best-equipped, best-led force for peace in the history of the world was not invented in the last two years. This had a strong influence and strong support during the Clinton years."

Yeah, that's why I know soooo many ex-military folks who got out for the simple reason that Clinton got elected. He IS indeed soley responsible for a great killing machine...a great morale-killing machine.

[Salman]

It's really not so crazy. First and foremost she needs to keep her seat in congress. If she didn't take such a position she might lose her seat to a Green. The Greens ran a close second in her district.

[Duramaximus]

Nancy Pelosi proves once again the depravity of the Democrapic Party. She has taken up the gauntlet of stupidity from where Pat Shroeder left off.

The word treason comes to mind every time this dumb-ass opens her yap.

[So Cal Rocket]

I'm ashamed that Nancy Pelosi comes from California...

I'm ashamed that Barbara Boxer comes from California...

I'm ashamed that Diane Feinstein comes from California...

However -

I'm so PROUD of the fact that Condi Rice is from California.

Condi for Governor!!

[A Citizen Reporter]

She's going down.

Here is quote:

"We could have probably brought down that statue for a lot less. "

Another angle I heard on our local news/talk radio station yesterday was an interview with an Iraqi exile woman who said, from her comfortable spot in a free country, that war was never justified. You should have heard the callers that lined up to call her a hypocrite. I'm so disgusted with KMOX radio of St. Louis, that I will do anything to bring their ratings down!

[Cato the Censor]

Bill"Blackhawk Down" Clinton and Les Aspen responsible for a strong military? What a brazen lie!

[Zebra]

I have said it before: Nancy Pelosi is the best thing that has happened to the Republican Party in 30 years. She will assure GOP dominance for at least a generation.

[Zebra]

I have said it before: Nancy Pelosi is the best thing that has happened to the Republican Party in 30 years. She will assure GOP dominance for at least a generation.

[auggy]

"Yeah, that's why I know soooo many ex-military folks who got out for the simple reason that Clinton got elected. He IS indeed soley responsible for a great killing machine...a great morale-killing machine."

Not letting their votes count in the Florida election was good for morale too.

[Lobster 6]

Baathists, National Socialists(Nazi), Communists, San Francisco Democrats - all socialist & totalitarian at their core. American socialists - San Francisco DemocRATs seem little different than the one's with better uniforms. The Rats & the Nazi's - nice fit. Call them RATZIs.

[jrushing]

Pelosi: Well let me start with that. Because you know what that vote was in 1991? It was a vote in which we voted with Sam Nunn, in order to give the sanctions a few more weeks to work. So now it's advertised it's presented as a vote for or against the war and it's just about giving the sanctions more time to work, and those of us who voted against going to war at that time were in the company of some great Americans who have been very strong on defense and not ever hesitant to use force when they thought it was the appropriate recourse.I have absolutely no regret about my vote on this war. The same questions remain: The cost in human lives, the cost...YADA, YADA,YADA....

Did you notice that all of the Dems repeat comments & spout sound bites that do not make a coherent thought? I dare you to read a Polesi paragraph & understand it.

[Morgan's Raider]

... And I met many of them at Bethesda Naval Hospital earlier this week. It isn't adequate to ever thank them enough.

This g**d*mn Marxist skank DARED to stink up that place of honor occupied by brave Marines and Sailors? I wish the reincarnation of General Patton had been walking down the hall.

[Free ThinkerNY]

Pelosi is the Wicked Witch of the West. Throw a bucket of water on her.

[longtermmemmory]

Democrat Party = hahahahahahahahaha hahahahhahahahahha hahahahahahahahahah


To be a Democrat Party member is to be a participant in a joke.

[WOSG]

"in order to give the sanctions a few more weeks to work.

Sanctions have always been a FAILURE against Iraq. She voted to continue a failed policy in 1991 and wanted to pursue more failed policies in 2003.

It is unclear to me why the Democrats have ANY credibility at all any more. Their views are being disproven again and again by the real events on the ground. They were and are wrong.