Posted on 02/19/2003 7:47:35 PM PST by MaineVoter2002
Text Of President Clinton's Address to the Nation on the Bombing of Iraq
Good evening. Earlier today, I ordered America's armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces. Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors. Their purpose is to protect the national interest of the United States, and indeed the interests of people throughout the Middle East and around the world. Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons. I want to explain why I have decided, with the unanimous recommendation of my national security team, to use force in Iraq; why we have acted now; and what we aim to accomplish. Six w...
To read the rest of this article, go to
http://www.newsmax.com/articles?a=1998/12/17/70745
Audio Of Clinton in 1998 (Courtesy of Howie Carr at wrko.com)
http://rope.wrko-am.fimc.net/audio/clinton-01.mp3
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
"And mark my words, he will develop weapons of mass destruction. He will deploy them, and he will use them."-Bubba
Wierd huh?
Cause in his authorizing massive strikes he never mentions conslting with the UN, France or Germany.
Where were the protests?
Celebrities Speak At New York Rally Against Impeachment (December 15, 1998)
Clinton attacked Iraq the next day (December 16, 1998)
PRESIDENT CLINTON IMPEACHED! (December 19, 1998)
Same bunch of Clinton C**ks**kers now clammering against the greatest preseident for our time were deafening in their silence against their god Clinton.
G*dd*m Bill and Hillary Clinton and there despicable religion of nazi-tried-and-true deceit.
Or Congress.
"Other countries possess weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. With Saddam, there is one big difference: He has used them. Not once, but repeatedly. Unleashing chemical weapons against Iranian troops during a decade-long war. Not only against soldiers, but against civilians, firing Scud missiles at the citizens of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran. And not only against a foreign enemy but even against his own people, gassing Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq".
"The U.N. Security Council voted 15 to zero to condemn Saddam's actions and to demand that he immediately come into compliance. Eight Arab nations -- Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman -- warned that Iraq alone would bear responsibility for the consequences of defying the U.N."
"I made it very clear at that time what unconditional cooperation meant, based on existing U.N. resolutions and Iraq's own commitments. And along with Prime Minister Blair of Great Britain, I made it equally clear that if Saddam failed to cooperate fully, we would be prepared to act without delay, diplomacy or warning. Now over the past three weeks, the U.N. weapons inspectors have carried out their plan for testing Iraq's cooperation. The conclusions are stark, sobering and profoundly disturbing. In four out of the five categories set forth, Iraq has failed to cooperate. Indeed, it actually has placed new restrictions on the inspectors."
"In short, the inspectors are saying...their work would be a sham. Saddam's deception has defeated their effectiveness. Instead of the inspectors disarming Saddam, Saddam has disarmed the inspectors..Saddam has failed to seize the chance. And so we had to act and act now."
"If Saddam can cripple the weapons inspection system and get away with it, he would conclude that the international community -- led by the United States -- has simply lost its will. He will surmise that he has free rein to rebuild his arsenal of destruction, and someday -- make no mistake -- he will use it again as he has in the past... If we turn our backs on his defiance, the credibility of U.S. power as a check against Saddam will be destroyed."
"We are delivering a powerful message to Saddam. If you act recklessly, you will pay a heavy price. We acted today because, in the judgment of my military advisers, a swift response would provide the most surprise and the least opportunity for Saddam to prepare. If we had delayed for even a matter of days from Chairman Butler's report, we would have given Saddam more time to disperse his forces and protect his weapons."
"Our allies, including Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain, concurred that now is the time to strike. I hope Saddam will come into cooperation with the inspection system now and comply with the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. But we have to be prepared that he will not, and we must deal with the very real danger he poses... First, we must be prepared to use force again if Saddam takes threatening actions, such as trying to reconstitute his weapons of mass destruction or their delivery systems, threatening his neighbors, challenging allied aircraft over Iraq or moving against his own Kurdish citizens."
"The hard fact is that so long as Saddam remains in power, he threatens the well-being of his people, the peace of his region, the security of the world. The best way to end that threat once and for all is with a new Iraqi government -- a government ready to live in peace with its neighbors, a government that respects the rights of its people".
"We must be prepared for these realities. At the same time, Saddam should have absolutely no doubt if he lashes out at his neighbors, we will respond forcefully. Heavy as they are, the costs of action must be weighed against the price of inaction. If Saddam defies the world and we fail to respond, we will face a far greater threat in the future. Saddam will strike again at his neighbors. He will make war on his own people. And mark my words, he will develop weapons of mass destruction. He will deploy them, and he will use them."
"Because we're acting today, it is less likely that we will face these dangers in the future. When we must act in America's vital interests, we will do so. In the century we're leaving, America has often made the difference between chaos and community, fear and hope. Now, in the new century, we'll have a remarkable opportunity to shape a future more peaceful than the past, but only if we stand strong against the enemies of peace."
Responce from the far left:
"Look at these evil RACIST warmongering statements!!! He's creating a dangerous new doctrine of PREEMPTION!! He's acting UNILATERALLY and causing the REST of the world to HATE us!! He shows complete disregard for human life!! He's a crazed cowboy!! He's just like HILTER!! He wants BLOOD FOR OIL! IMPEACH him!! Free Palestine!! Free Mumia!!
Oh wait.
You mean CLINTON said all those things?
Nevermind".
I questioning the TIMING of the attacks (convinently occuring on the day Clinton was impeached). I did not question the NECCESITY of the attacks. Clinton should have done it long ago. My position has not changed through the George H. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush adminstrations. It has ALWAYS been: "When the opportunity arrives, we should devote all our resources towards ousting Saddem from power, by force if neccessary"
This is in stark constant to the "No blood for oil" HYPOCRITES who are peaceniks if a Republican is in office but let a Democrat bomb WHATEVER he wants for WHATEVER reason.
Let's face it, if John Kerry were in office RIGHT NOW and doing exactly what Bush is doing on Iraq, 90% of the current "anti-war" crowd would be beating down the door to PRAISE him.
Clinton: Iraq has abused its final chance - December 16, 1998
... Clinton: Iraq has abused its final chance. American president defends
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A WORRIED BRENT SCOWCROFT ON CLINTON'S IRAQ POLICY
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Peace marches have aroused backers of military action
Indianapolis Star, IN - 2 hours ago
... 16, 1998, speech by President Bill Clinton. For those with short memories,
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... time, Mr. Clinton justified the attack because a report by UN weapons inspectors
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