Former Secretary of State Wary of Iraq Attack
Posted on 08/22/2002 9:46:35 AM PDT by RCW2001
|
Former Secretary of State Wary of Iraq Attack
|
| Aug. 22 — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, part of a Republican faction with reservations about attacking Iraq, said on Thursday he was not convinced that the time was right for military action. Unless the Bush administration had evidence that the Iraqi government is very close to developing weapons of mass destruction, he would not support a unilateral U.S. military campaign to get rid of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, he told CNN in an interview. "When we don't have the allies with us, when we haven't very clearly stated what we will do once we've gotten Saddam out of there, assuming we can get him out without too much agony, then we ought to take our time," he said. "I'm not at all convinced now that this is something we have to do at this very moment," he added. The United States would have to use overwhelming force to make sure a military operation succeeds, at a cost of tens of billions of dollars, and would have to stay in Iraq as an occupying force for years to come, he said. "All of those things need to be made clear to the American people," said Eagleburger, who was secretary of state in the last months of the term of former President George Bush, the father of President Bush. The debate over Bush's plans for Iraq has heated up this month but U.S. officials continue to say the president does not have any war plans on his desk. Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have tried to discourage speculation that action is imminent. Bush said on Wednesday he was a patient man and would look at all options before acting. The debate has split Republicans into two factions -- those who say that delaying action is dangerous and those who say the administration should not act precipitously. Washington's European and Arab allies and friends are almost universally opposed to military action. Even Britain, the European country usually closest to U.S. foreign policy, said on Thursday that its aim in Iraq was to get U.N. weapons inspectors back in. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said, "The best way of trying to isolate and reduce that threat (the threat of Iraqi weapons) is by the introduction of weapons inspections. The crucial issue here is weapons inspectors." Eagleburger said he would however support Bush wholeheartedly if Bush produced evidence against Saddam. "I need to be told in no uncertain and clear terms that he now has his finger on a trigger for a nuclear weapon or something of this sort that is close to being developed. "If the intelligence is clear ... then all the president needs to do is say that to the American people and, at least as far as I am concerned, I will believe him implicitly, and in those circumstances then yes we should go," he said. |
Where has this guy been for the past 11 months? I'm sure glad he agrees with Bush that we should attack Iraq! It sure took a lot of words to get to there.
Me too. I think it was Kristol who made the point on Fox last night, that once he *has* nuclear weapons it's too damned late to do anything, because everyone will say "you don't want to see our troops get nuked".
But let's look at another group opposing the war: those who claim Bush didn't do enough to prevent the attacks or ignored the "wonderful" Bill Clinton's ideas on how to smash Al Qaeda (gag barf). Well, we have Saddam, we have Saddam developing weapons of mass destruction. Anyone who opposes pre-emption now should publicly state that they will accept responsibility for failing to intervene to prevent any future terrorist attacks that use weapons of mass destruction from Iraq.
Will anyone like Hagel, Eagleburger, Scowcroft, or Howell Raines make that sort of statement? Of course not. They want us to sit on our hands, then if something happens they want to blame anyone but themselves.
The operative word is "former."
Beware.
Lawrence S. Eagleburger was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of State by President Bush on December 8, 1992. He was forced too resign as Secretary of State on January 19, 1993. His very short term of 42 days was served with outstanding distinction.
He was mentored by Dr. Henry Kissinger. He likes short walks around Washington. His theatrical agent is unknown at this time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.