Posted on 01/12/2004 4:30:17 PM PST by Alissa
Monterrey, Mexico-AP -- President Bush is declining to criticize former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, who claims in a new book that the White House planned to topple Saddam Hussein before Nine-Eleven.
Bush says he inherited a policy of "regime change" in Iraq from the Clinton administration and adopted it as his own. He says the administration was working out its policy when Nine-Eleven hit.
The president made the comments during a news conference with Mexican President Vicente Fox. Fox was an opponent of the Iraq war but congratulated the U-S for capturing Saddam.
For a post that does explain why what you are implying is false, and gives references to prove it, see my post #64 to you.
If you consider the post too long for your tastes, here are the last two paragraphs, as supported by the rest of the post:
"The 2003 invasion of Iraq was conducted in full compliance with U.S. and international law. Those who say or imply otherwise are lying.
"This is not a rant. These are the facts, and this is the truth."
That show was right up there with "family Guy"
I'm completely against 'immigration reform' and I voted also...but I can guarantee you that that one issue will not pivot me to vote for Dean. Or to throw it away on a third party. There are many things I have disagreed with Bush on...but I have no utopian vision of getting a President in office that backs policy that is 100% in agreement with my opinion either.
However that same 50% hears "Blah Blah Blah....." and waits to hear what Dan Rather or Bill Maher tells them to think.
Most of them think Paul O'Neil is the half brother of Shaquille O'Neil.
Boy, things haven't changed much.
Yet he seems to be completely satisfied with the intervention in Kosovo as our troops are still there. Expanding our military intervention over the world, does not to me, seem to be a "more humble foreign policy". It is true that the 9/11 incident required a forceful response, which we made in Afghanistan, but since then our policy has deteriorated to the point that we have lost control and are at the mercy of random events.
Iran, Syria, North Korea, are problems waiting in the wings that we do not have the manpower on the ground to control. Speak softly but carry a big stick has been replaced by threaten repeatedly, but we are tied down in Iraq and disregard our rhetoric. Our foreign policy has been reduced to the coalition of the willing. I do see signs that the President has abandoned some of his lofty goals and become more realistic in his expectations. Hence the idea that we turn over the governance of Afghanistan and Iraq to them, even if they remain Muslim theocracies.
Spending is out of control, due in large part, to our involvement in the Middle East. Enlarging our commitments to medicare and drugs, Aids in Africa, and No Child Left Behind, have contributed to our falling dollar and uncertainties of being able to service our debts.
Now with the foray into the amnesty that isn't an amnesty, while the job and employment picture languishes, one wonders if there is a thought process on domestic issues similar to our foreign issues. Part of the problem lies of course, with the advisers surrounding the oval office.
No man can cover all issues all the time but has to rely on the advice given on various subjects. Hopefully this can be sorted out before the election and GW given another term, for the opposition does not look impressive either. The local representatives and senatorial votes will be the key to our future.
When and if democracy and peace in Iraq are established, then an argument can be made that the whole experience was worthwhile. Unfortunately, it does not look positive with Kurds pulling for autonomy and the Shiite clergy calling for an election allowing their followers to have a referendum making their majority the rulers and religious leaders of Iraq.
Are all your posts this inaccurate?
Kindly point out to all of us his EXACT words where he gave credit to Clinton?
Q Thank you, President Fox. President Bush, is it true, as your former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill says, that you started planning for the invasion of Iraq within days of your inauguration? Do you feel betrayed? And should he have released those documents?
PRESIDENT BUSH: First, let me say, I appreciate former Secretary O'Neill's service to our country. We worked together during some difficult times. We worked together when the country was in recession, and now we're coming out of recession, which is positive news. We worked together when America was attacked on September the 11th, which changed how I viewed the world. September the 11th made me realize that America was no longer protected by oceans, and we had to take threats very seriously no matter where they may be materializing.
And, no, the stated policy of my administration towards Saddam Hussein was very clear. Like the previous administration, we were for regime change. And in the initial stages of the administration, as you might remember, we were dealing with Desert Badger, or fly-overs and fly-betweens and looks, and so we were fashioning policy along those lines. And then, all of a sudden, September the 11th hit. And as the President of the United States, my most solemn obligation is to protect the security of the American people. That's my -- to me that's the most solemn thing an American President -- or any president -- must do. And I took that duty very seriously.
And as you know, not only did we deal with the Taliban, we gave -- working through the United Nations and working through international community, we made it clear that Saddam Hussein should disarm. And like he had done with a lot of previous resolutions, he ignored the world's demands. And now he's no longer in power, and the world is better for it. The Iraqi people are better for it; America is better for it; Mexico is better for it. The world is more peaceful as a result of Saddam Hussein not being in power.
And the task at hand, Mr. President -- and he and I -- he knows this fully well -- is to make sure that the aspirations of the Iraqi people are allowed to flourish. And we'll get there. It's a tough task right now. It's hard work, but we've done hard work in the past. And a free Iraq is going to be in the world's interest.
Thank you very much.
PRESIDENT FOX: Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon.
END 2:45 P.M. (Local)
It is not corrected by ignoring the facts or trying to shift the blame to a third party. The Defense Policy Board at the Freedom Foundation sent a letter to Clinton in 1998 urging the overthrow of Sadaam Hussein. Most of these same signatories became key figures in the Bush Administration.
This is probably the reason Bush stated that there was a plan for regime change in the Clinton administration when answering questions in Monterrey. A copy of the letter is on the website of Freedom Foundation. This is not a liberal Foundation. Another site that I would like to recommend that has a critical essay on our military missteps on the war on terror can be found at the American War College site.
It is not only related to the military, but discusses the effects of the economics of being able to continue our overseas defense as well as improve our homeland defense measures. The gist of the article is that we have to choose our priorities and adjust to fourth generation warfare while still preserving an economy that can sustain our military obligations.
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