[Howlin]

GORE: Well, when I got to be a part of the current administration it was right after I was one of the few members of my political party to support former President Bush in the Persian Gulf war resolution.

Alan Simpson loves to tell the story of just how Al Gore came to "support" that war; it seems that Gore wanted the 8 P.M. EST time slot during the debate, and he made his decision on his choice by whichever side would give him the most speaking time at that time. Dole gave it to him and now Gore claims that he supported the war, when, in fact, he sold his vote for face time.

And at the end of that war, for whatever reasons it was not finished in a way that removed Saddam Hussein from power.

Ah, Al, it was because there was NO U.N. resolution to remove Saddam Hussein from power; the resolution was ONLY to get him out of Iraq.

I know there are all kinds of circumstances and explanations.

You mean actually abiding by the U.N. resolution? I know obeying laws was foreign to you, but really, Al!

But the fact is that that's the situation that was left when I got there.

Well, you "got there" in 1993; and what did YOU do about it for the next 8 years?

[cyncooper]

Thank you for adding the thing about Gore selling his vote. I think it is safe to say the Clinton administration and Gore used Iraq as a political ping pong ball. They had information that confirms Bush's assessment, but they did not take it seriously. Gore adds the "for whatever reason" knowing full well no UN authorization in order to imply GHW Bush did something wrong in leaving Saddam in place. So, Saddam should have been removed, but eight years later there he sat because THEY weren't about to use political capital on such a gamble. Just as you point out.

With that I must sign off. Good night!