Re: Are there no bounds to Winston's lies and deceit??? Re: Rumsfeld Was Right

Quotes and Facts on Iraq

"Every nation has to either be with us, or against us.
Those who harbor terrorists, or who finance them, are going to pay a
price."

Senator Hillary Clinton (Democrat, New York)
During an interview on CBS Evening News with Dan Rather
September 13, 2001

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Sw8leOyTFo

http://www.wavsource.com/news/20010911a.htm

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DbYGYiGjpUs
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"My position is very clear: The time has come for
decisive action to eliminate the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's
weapons of mass destruction. I'm a co-sponsor of the bipartisan
Resolution that's presently under consideration in the Senate. Saddam
Hussein's regime is a grave threat to America and our allies. We know
that he has chemical and biological weapons today, that he's used them
in the past, and that he's doing everything he can to build more.
Every day he gets closer to his long-term goal of nuclear capability.

Democracy will not spring up by itself overnight in a multi-ethnic,
complicated society that's suffered under one repressive regime after
another for generations. The Iraqi people deserve and need our help
to rebuild their lives and to create a prosperous, thriving, open
society. All Iraqis, including Sunnis, Shia and Kurds, deserve to be
represented. This is not just a moral imperative. It's a security
imperative. It is in America's national interest to help build an
Iraq at peace with itself and its neighbors, because a democratic,
tolerant and accountable Iraq will be a peaceful regional partner, and
such an Iraq could serve as a model for the entire Arab world."

Senator John Edwards (Democrat, North Carolina)
Speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
October 7, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#bUn5mYtOga

http://youtube.com/watch?v=U2JfndMusfc

http://csis.org/component/option,com_csis_events/task,view/id,167/
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"In the four years since the inspectors left,
intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild
his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery
capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort,
and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members...

It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will
continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical
warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he
succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security
landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well, effects
American security.

This is a very difficult vote, this is probably the hardest decision
I've ever had to make. Any vote that might lead to war should be
hard, but I cast it with conviction."

Senator Hillary Clinton (Democrat, New York)
Addressing the US Senate
October 10, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Ze0sYbagHe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkS9y5t0tR0

http://clinton.senate.gov/speeches/iraq_101002.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"In the next century, the community of nations may see
more and more the very kind of threat Iraq poses now -- a rogue state
with weapons of mass destruction ready to use them or provide them to
terrorists, drug traffickers or organized criminals who travel the
world among us unnoticed.

If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in
his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow by the knowledge that they
can act with impunity, even in the face of a clear message from the
United Nations Security Council and clear evidence of a weapons of
mass destruction program."

President Clinton
Address to Joint Chiefs of Staff and Pentagon staff
February 17, 1998

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#tUg6SadaTK

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/02/17/transcripts/clinton.iraq/
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America is threatened by an "unholy axis":

"We must exercise responsibility not just at home, but around the
world. On the eve of a new century, we have the power and the duty to
build a new era of peace and security.

We must combat an unholy axis of new threats from terrorists,
international criminals, and drug traffickers. These 21st century
predators feed on technology and the free flow of information... And
they will be all the more lethal if weapons of mass destruction fall
into their hands.

Together, we must confront the new hazards of chemical and biological
weapons and the outlaw states, terrorists, and organized criminals
seeking to acquire them. Saddam Hussein has spent the better part of
this decade and much of his nation's wealth not on providing for the
Iraqi people but on developing nuclear, chemical, and biological
weapons and the missiles to deliver them."

President Clinton
State of the Union address
January 27, 1998

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Heu6cOcHyc

http://clinton5.nara.gov/textonly/WH/SOTU98/address.html
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"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."

President Clinton
Oval Office Address to the American People
December 16, 1998

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#kO7eVCiIta


http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/16/transcripts/clinton.html
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"People can quarrel with whether we should have more
troops in Afghanistan or internationalize Iraq or whatever, but it is
incontestable that on the day I left office, there were unaccounted
for stocks of biological and chemical weapons."

Former President Clinton
During an interview on CNN's "Larry King Live"
July 22, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#wR6nIpoLli

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/07/23/clinton.iraq.sotu/
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"Iraq is a long way from Ohio, but what happens there
matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue
state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or
our allies is the greatest security threat we face."

Madeleine Albright, President Clinton's Secretary of State
Town Hall Meeting on Iraq at Ohio State University
February 18, 1998

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#lIo0vAeGDa

http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/02/20/98022006_tpo.html
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"Imagine the consequences if Saddam fails to comply
and we fail to act. Saddam will be emboldened, believing the
international community has lost its will. He will rebuild his
arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. And some day, some way, I am
certain, he will use that arsenal again, as he has ten times since
1983."

Sandy Berger, President Clinton's National Security Advisor
Town Hall Meeting on Iraq at Ohio State University
February 18, 1998

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#voY0lOeonG

http://www.fas.org/news/iraq/1998/02/20/98022006_tpo.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"No one has done what Saddam Hussein has done, or is
thinking of doing. He is producing weapons of mass destruction, and
he is qualitatively and quantitatively different from other
dictators."

Madeleine Albright, President Clinton's Secretary of State
Town Hall Meeting on Iraq at Ohio State University
February 18, 1998

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#oaT1baqjeJ

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9802/18/town.meeting.folo/
[Link Directly To This Entry]


Regime change in Iraq has been official US policy
since 1998. The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, signed into law by
President Clinton, states:

"It should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to
remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to
promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that
regime."

Iraq Liberation Act of 1998
105th Congress, 2nd Session
September 29, 1998

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Lof9huGeMd

http://globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/iraq/1998/980929-in2.htm
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In 2003, the United Nations scheduled Saddam's regime
to chair the UN Conference on Disarmament. (Allied forces liberated
Baghdad on April 9th, 2003, and Saddam was found hiding in a hole on
December 12th, 2003.)

United Nations
January 16, 2003

Press Release

CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT TO OPEN 2003 SESSION ON 20 JANUARY

The Conference on Disarmament, the world's sole multilateral forum for
disarmament negotiations, will open its 2003 session on Monday, 20
January, at the Palais des Nations. The first public plenary will
take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, 21 January.

The session will open under the presidency of Ambassador Rakesh Sood,
Permanent Representative of India to the Conference on Disarmament.
The presidency of the Conference rotates amongst its member States
according to the English alphabetical order; each President holds
office for four working weeks. During 2003, the presidency of the
Conference also will be held by Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran,
Iraq, Ireland, and Israel. The Conference's annual session is divided
into three parts. The first part of the session will conclude on 28
March; the second will run from 12 May to 27 June; and the third will
be held from 28 July to 10 September.

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#guR1YisAmg

http://www.unog.ch/news2/documents/newsen/dc0301e.htm
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Associated Press
February 13, 1999

Bin Laden reportedly leaves Afghanistan, whereabouts unknown

Osama bin Laden, the Saudi millionaire accused by the United States of
plotting bomb attacks on two U.S. embassies in Africa, has left
Afghanistan, Afghan sources said Saturday.

Taliban authorities in the militia's southern stronghold of Kandahar
refused to either confirm or deny reports that bin Laden had left the
country.

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has offered asylum to bin Laden, who
openly supports Iraq against the Western powers.

Despite repeated demands from Washington, the Taliban refused to hand
over bin Laden after the August 7 bombings of the U.S. embassies in
Kenya and Tanzania, demanding proof of his involvement in terrorist
activities.

The Taliban did promise that bin Laden would not use Afghanistan as a
staging arena for terrorist activities.

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#soL0pEswIs

http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/meast/9902/13/afghan.binladen/
[Link Directly To This Entry]


An Iraqi man calls into a radio show, which had as a
guest Andrea Buffa from "United for Peace & Justice," and tries to get
her to answer a single question.

March 10, 2003
KVI 570 AM, Seattle, WA

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#75w4XIO9tHU

http://youtube.com/watch?v=75w4XIO9tHU

[Link Directly To This Entry]




CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: Were we right to go to this war alone [sic],
basically without the Europeans behind us [sic]? Was that something
we had to do?

SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS (Democrat, North Carolina): I think that we were
right to go. I think we were right to go to the United Nations. I
think we couldn't let those who could veto in the Security Council
hold us hostage. And I think Saddam Hussein being gone is good. Good
for the American people, good for the security of that region of the
world, and good for the Iraqi people.

MATTHEWS: If you think the decision, which was made by the president,
when basically he saw the French weren't with us and the Germans and
the Russians weren't with us, was he right to say, "We're going
anyway"?

EDWARDS: I stand behind my support of that, yes.

MATTHEWS: You believe in that?

EDWARDS: Yes.

Senator John Edwards (Democrat, North Carolina)
During an interview on MSNBC's "Hardball"
October 13, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#b2y8quAoBn

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3131295/
[Link Directly To This Entry]


The Guardian
February 6, 1999

Saddam link to Bin Laden

By Julian Borger

Saddam Hussein's regime has opened talks with Osama bin Laden,
bringing closer the threat of a terrorist attack using chemical,
biological or nuclear weapons, according to US intelligence sources
and Iraqi opposition officials.

The key meeting took place in the Afghan mountains near Kandahar in
late December. The Iraqi delegation was led by Farouk Hijazi,
Baghdad's ambassador in Turkey and one of Saddam's most powerful
secret policemen, who is thought to have offered Bin Laden asylum in
Iraq.

News of the negotiations emerged in a week when the US attorney
general, Janet Reno, warned the Senate that a terrorist attack
involving weapons of mass destruction was a growing concern. "There's
a threat, and it's real," Ms Reno said, adding that such weapons "are
being considered for use."

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#tO6tWImvU6

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,314700,00.html
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Dan Rather, anchorman for CBS News, appears on The
David Letterman Show shortly after 9-11. The show had been off the
air for a week.

Below are transcript excerpts.

RATHER: President Bush made what I think is his strongest statement
yet when he went to the Pentagon this afternoon. He was
Giuliani-esque -- I don't think he would mind me saying that, no. He
looked the camera straight in the eye -- unblinking -- and said "Osama
Dead or Alive."

[Audience applause]

RATHER: And with what we're dealing with here, which is not one man
[Bin Laden], it's a hydra-headed operation that's in 55 countries
around the world. Now granted, the focus is on, and we should
understand, not just Afghanistan -- Afghanistan, Sudan, Iran, Iraq,
Syria, and Libya.

RATHER: They hate America. They hate us. This is one thing that
makes this war different. They don't want territory, they don't want
what we got -- they want to kill us and destroy us. It's a heavy
statement, but it's true -- they seek to accomplish our death. Death
as a people, as a society, and a culture.

LETTERMAN: Why?

RATHER: Who can explain madmen, and who can explain evil.

RATHER: Saddam Hussein, if he isn't connect to this, he's connected to
any other things. He's part of this 'Hate America' thing. You have
to understand, Saddam Hussein is somebody I have sat this close, eye
to eye.

LETTERMAN: The other day, *** Cheney -- who to me seemed like the
real deal -- *** Cheney was talking about how counter-intelligence
and espionage is dirty business, and maybe now we were going to have
to get down in the mud with these people, and I thought well Holy God
wasn't that the way it was supposed to be?

RATHER: This [war] will be long, the casualties will be greater. Let's
face it, we've already had more casualties, I mean five thousand of
our fellow Americans have been killed already. When we talk about
casualties, we've suffered casualties, but there will be more. When
we send out sons and daughters into this kind of war, into this
Twilight Zone that they're going, there will be great casualties. Now,
it remains to be seen whether we have the staying power, that's
basically up to you, and me, and everybody in the audience, and every
American, whether we have the staying power, whether we have the will
to stay with it, is the big question. But you say 'Will it do
anything?' I certainly think it can, but what would we think of
ourselves if we didn't try.

RATHER: This will take years, this may very well take another four,
eight, ten years. The world's view of us, in many places with many
people, is we just don't have the stomach to stick anything out. Well,
we were great during World War II, but this is a new generation,
they're all spoiled.

Dan Rather, CBS News Anchor
Interview on "The David Letterman Show"
September 17, 2001

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Uzt8ha4DsW

http://tinyurl.com/yvkdbg

http://www.livevideo.com/video/
B0BE9375C1C54920A32C79C5F9AB2981/
dan-rather-on-letterman-just-a.aspx

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Click Photo to Enlarge Newsweek
January 11, 1999

Saddam + Bin Laden? America's two enemies are courting.

By Christopher Dickey, Gregory Vistica, and Russell Watson

In the no-fly zones of northern and southern Iraq, Saddam Hussein's
gunners blindly fired surface-to-air missiles at patrolling American
and British warplanes. In Yemen, terrorists seized a group of British
Commonwealth and American tourists, and four of the hostages died in a
shootout. In Tel Aviv, the US Embassy abruptly closed down after
receiving a terrorist threat. Perhaps it was just a typical week in
the Middle East. But in a region where no one puts much faith in
blind coincidence, last week's conjunction of Iraqi antiaircraft fire
and terrorism aimed at the countries that had just bombed Iraq
convinced some that a new conspiracy was afoot.

Here's what is known so far: Saddam Hussein, who has a long record of
supporting terrorism, is trying to rebuild his intelligence network
overseas -- assets that would allow him to establish a terrorism
network. US sources say he is reaching out to Islamic terrorists,
including some who may be linked to Osama bin Laden, the wealthy Saudi
exile accused of masterminding the bombing of two US embassies in
Africa last summer. US intelligence has had reports of contacts
between low-level agents. Saddam and bin Laden have interests -- and
enemies -- in common. Both men want US military forces out of Saudi
Arabia. Bin Laden has been calling for all-out war on Americans,
using as his main pretext Washington's role in bombing and boycotting
Iraq. Now bin Laden is engaged in something of a public-relations
offensive, having granted recent interviews, one for NEWSWEEK. He
says "any American who pays taxes to his government" is a legitimate
target.

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#tH6sEmCinI

http://www.lexisnexis.com
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Video for some of these quotes, click to play.
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"There is a very easy way to prevent anyone from being
put into harm's way, and that is for Saddam Hussein to disarm, and I
have absolutely no belief that he will. I have to say that this is
something I have followed for more than a decade.

For now nearly 20 years, the principal reason why women and children
in Iraq have suffered, is because of Saddam's leadership.

The very difficult question for all of us, is how does one bring about
the disarmament of someone with such a proven track record of a
commitment, if not an obsession, with weapons of mass destruction.

I ended up voting for the Resolution after carefully reviewing the
information and intelligence I had available, talking with people
whose opinions I trusted, trying to discount political or other
factors that I didn't believe should be in any way a part of this
decision, and it is unfortunate that we are at the point of a
potential military action to enforce the resolution. That is not my
preference, it would be far preferable if we had legitimate
cooperation from Saddam Hussein, and a willingness on his part to
disarm, and to account for his chemical and biological storehouses.

With respect to whose responsibility it is to disarm Saddam Hussein, I
do not believe that given the attitudes of many people in the world
community today that there would be a willingness to take on very
difficult problems were it not for United States leadership. And I am
talking specifically about what had to be done in Bosnia and Kosovo,
where my husband could not get a Security Council resolution to save
the Kosovar Albanians from ethnic cleansing. And we did it alone as
the United States, and we had to do it alone. It would have been far
preferable if the Russians and others had agreed to do it through the
United Nations -- they would not. I'm happy that, in the face of such
horrible suffering, we did act."

Senator Hillary Clinton (Democrat, New York)
During a meeting with "Code Pink" at the US Capitol
March 6, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Cuf1SojhAy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_KEWUU33Lg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYATbsu2cP8
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"There is now no incentive for Hussein to comply with
the inspectors or to refrain from using weapons of mass destruction to
defend himself if the United States comes after him. And he will use
them; we should be under no illusion about that."

Joseph Wilson, Advisor to John Kerry 2004 Presidential Campaign
In a Los Angeles Times editorial: "A 'Big Cat' With Nothing to
Lose"
February 6, 2003; Page B17

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Sou1xYeoSM

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/
opinion/la-oe-wilson6feb06,1,194637.story

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/
access/283963011.html?dids=283963011:283963011&FMT=ABS
&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+6%2C+2003&pub=Los+Angeles+Times
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BILL MOYERS: President Bush's recent speech to the American Enterprise
Institute, he said, let me quote it to you. "The danger posed by
Saddam Hussein and his weapons cannot be ignored or wished away." You
agree with that?

JOE WILSON: I agree with that. Sure.

BILL MOYERS: "The danger must be confronted." You agree with that?
"We would hope that the Iraqi regime will meet the demands of the
United Nations and disarm fully and peacefully. If it does not, we
are prepared to disarm Iraq by force. Either way, this danger will be
removed. The safety of the American people depends on ending this
direct and growing threat." You agree with that?

JOE WILSON: I agree with that. Sure. The President goes on to say in
that speech, as he did in the State of the Union Address, is we will
liberate Iraq from a brutal dictator. All of which is true.

Joseph Wilson, Advisor to John Kerry 2004 Presidential Campaign
During an interview with Bill Moyers
February 28, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Ca1oFeLenC

http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_wilson.html
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The Washington Post
January 23, 1999; Page A02

Official Cites Gains Against Bin Laden

By Vernon Loeb

Richard A. Clarke, the Clinton administration's senior
counterterrorism official, provided new information in defense of
President Clinton's decision to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles at the
El Shifa pharmaceutical plant in Khartoum, Sudan, in retaliation for
Osama bin Laden's role in the Aug. 7 embassy bombings.

While U.S. intelligence officials disclosed shortly after the missile
attack that they had obtained a soil sample from the El Shifa site
that contained a precursor of VX nerve gas, Clarke said that the U.S.
government is "sure" that Iraqi nerve gas experts actually produced a
powdered VX-like substance at the plant that, when mixed with bleach
and water, would have become fully active VX nerve gas.

Clarke said U.S. intelligence does not know how much of the substance
was produced at El Shifa or what happened to it. But he said that
intelligence exists linking bin Laden to El Shifa's current and past
operators, the Iraqi nerve gas experts, and the National Islamic Front
in Sudan.

Given the evidence presented to the White House before the airstrike,
Clarke said, the president "would have been derelict in his duties if
he didn't blow up the facility."

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#iR3SycLjoW

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/
38284880.html?did=38284880&FMT=ABS&FMTS=FT
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"As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am
keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons
is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has
been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction
technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has
made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California)
Statement on US Led Military Strike Against Iraq
December 16, 1998

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Reb6pNPrWh

http://www.house.gov/pelosi/priraq1.htm
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"Saddam Hussein certainly has chemical and biological
weapons. There's no question about that."

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California)
During an interview on "Meet The Press"
November 17, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#viL8sPidHw

http://www.accuracy.org/newsrelease.php?articleId=375
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"I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end
of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence, where stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction was one of my top priorities. I applaud the President on
focusing on this issue and on taking the lead to disarm Saddam
Hussein. ... Others have talked about this threat that is posed by
Saddam Hussein. Yes, he has chemical weapons, he has biological
weapons, he is trying to get nuclear weapons."

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California)
Addressing the US House of Representatives
October 10, 2002
Congressional Record, p. H7777

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#tEe1beZmiR

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/
cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?position=all&page=H7777&dbname=2002_record
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"There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat
to the United States and to our allies.

If Saddam persists in thumbing his nose at the inspectors, then we're
clearly going to have to do something about it."

Howard Dean, Democratic Presidential Candidate
During an interview on "Face The Nation"
September 29, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#At6lAvaPtR

http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/face_092902.pdf
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"We stopped the fighting [in 1991] on an agreement
that Iraq would take steps to assure the world that it would not
engage in further aggression and that it would destroy its weapons of
mass destruction. It has refused to take those steps. That refusal
constitutes a breach of the armistice which renders it void and
justifies resumption of the armed conflict."

Senator Harry Reid (Democrat, Nevada)
Addressing the US Senate
October 9, 2002
Congressional Record, p. S10145

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Bu2pEtWhKr

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/
cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?position=all&page=S10145&dbname=2002_record
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"It is the duty of any president, in the final
analysis, to defend this nation and dispel the security threat. Saddam
Hussein has brought military action upon himself by refusing for 12
years to comply with the mandates of the United Nations. The brave
and capable men and women of our armed forces and those who are with
us will quickly, I know, remove him once and for all as a threat to
his neighbors, to the world, and to his own people, and I support
their doing so."

Senator John Kerry (Democrat, Massachusetts)
Statement on eve of military strikes against Iraq
March 17, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#mEi8CutdRD

http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030331&s=lizza033103
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Wesley Clark, 2004 Democratic presidential candidate,
discusses Saddam's WMD:

WESLEY CLARK: He does have weapons of mass destruction.

MILES O'BRIEN: And you could say that categorically?

WESLEY CLARK: Absolutely.

MILES O'BRIEN: All right, well, where are, where is, they've been
there a long time and thus far we've got 12 empty casings. Where are
all these weapons?

WESLEY CLARK: There's a lot of stuff hidden in a lot of different
places, Miles, and I'm not sure that we know where it all is. People
in Iraq do. The scientists know some of it. Some of the military,
the low ranking military; some of Saddam Hussein's security
organizations. There's a big organization in place to cover and
deceive and prevent anyone from knowing about this.

Wesley Clark, Democratic Presidential Candidate
During an interview on CNN
January 18, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#oB1sTAlyEj

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0301/18/smn.05.html
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"It appears that with the deadline for exile come and
gone, Saddam Hussein has chosen to make military force the ultimate
weapons inspections enforcement mechanism. If so, the only exit
strategy is victory, this is our common mission and the world's
cause."

Senator John Kerry (Democrat, Massachusetts)
Statement on commencement of military strikes against Iraq
March 20, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#cI2osPFeDa

http://kerry.senate.gov/high/record.cfm?id=191582
[Link Directly To This Entry]


Senator John Edwards, when asked about "Axis of Evil"
countries Iran, Iraq, and North Korea:

"I mean, we have three different countries that, while they all
present serious problems for the United States -- they're
dictatorships, they're involved in the development and proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction -- you know, the most imminent, clear
and present threat to our country is not the same from those three
countries. I think Iraq is the most serious and imminent threat to
our country."

Senator John Edwards (Democrat, North Carolina)
During an interview on CNN's "Late Edition"
February 24, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#ioN4aLlmAj

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0202/24/le.00.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"Those who doubted whether Iraq or the world would be
better off without Saddam Hussein, and those who believe today that we
are not safer with his capture, don't have the judgment to be
President, or the credibility to be elected President.

No one can doubt or should doubt that we are safer -- and Iraq is
better -- because Saddam Hussein is now behind bars."

Senator John Kerry (Democrat, Massachusetts)
Speech at Drake University in Iowa
December 16, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Em0acOsMiP

http://www.jsonline.com/news/gen/dec03/193182.asp?format=print
[Link Directly To This Entry]


John Edwards, while voting YES to the Resolution
authorizing US military force against Iraq:

"Others argue that if even our allies support us, we should not
support this resolution because confronting Iraq now would undermine
the long-term fight against terrorist groups like Al Qaeda. Yet, I
believe that this is not an either-or choice. Our national security
requires us to do both, and we can."

Senator John Edwards (Democrat, North Carolina)
US Senate floor statement: "Authorization of the Use of
United States Armed Forces Against Iraq"
October 10, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#abE0myNkIg

http://edwards.senate.gov/statements/20021010_iraq.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam
Hussein. And when the president made the decision, I supported him,
and I support the fact that we did disarm him."

Senator John Kerry (Democrat, Massachusetts)
During a Democratic Primary Debate at the University of South
Carolina
May 3, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#uB7brEgjce

http://www.vote-smart.org/debate_transcripts/trans_1.pdf
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein's regime is a
serious danger, that he is a tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal
weapons of mass destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed.

We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and
developing weapons of mass destruction."

Senator Edward Kennedy (Democrat, Massachusetts)
Speech at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
September 27, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#meC4KnBuxD

http://kennedy.senate.gov/~kennedy/statements/02/09/2002927718.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]


John Kerry, while voting YES to the Resolution
authorizing US military force against Iraq:

"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the
authority to use force - if necessary - to disarm Saddam Hussein
because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction
in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security."

Senator John Kerry (Democrat, Massachusetts)
Addressing the US Senate
October 9, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#gAf8cHfIri

http://www.johnkerry.com/news/speeches/spc_2002_1009.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I
firmly believe that the issue of Iraq is not about politics. It's
about national security. We know that for at least 20 years, Saddam
Hussein has obsessively sought weapons of mass destruction through
every means available. We know that he has chemical and biological
weapons today. He has used them in the past, and he is doing
everything he can to build more. Each day he inches closer to his
longtime goal of nuclear capability -- a capability that could be less
than a year away.

The path of confronting Saddam is full of hazards. But the path of
inaction is far more dangerous. This week, a week where we remember
the sacrifice of thousands of innocent Americans made on 9-11, the
choice could not be starker. Had we known that such attacks were
imminent, we surely would have used every means at our disposal to
prevent them and take out the plotters. We cannot wait for such a
terrible event -- or, if weapons of mass destruction are used, one far
worse -- to address the clear and present danger posed by Saddam
Hussein's Iraq."

Senator John Edwards (Democrat, North Carolina)
US Senate floor statement: "Iraqi Dictator Must Go"
September 12, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Fop3rOUbrH

http://edwards.senate.gov/statements/20020912_iraq.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein.
He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime. We
all know the litany of his offenses. He presents a particularly
grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation.
He miscalculated an eight-year war with Iran. He miscalculated the
invasion of Kuwait. He miscalculated America's response to that act
of naked aggression. He miscalculated the result of setting oil rigs
on fire. He miscalculated the impact of sending scuds into Israel and
trying to assassinate an American President. He miscalculated his own
military strength. He miscalculated the Arab world's response to his
misconduct. And now he is miscalculating America's response to his
continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass
destruction. That is why the world, through the United Nations
Security Council, has spoken with one voice, demanding that Iraq
disclose its weapons programs and disarm.

So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is
real, but it is not new. It has been with us since the end of the
Persian Gulf War.

In U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441, the United Nations has now
affirmed that Saddam Hussein must disarm or face the most serious
consequences. Let me make it clear that the burden is resoundingly on
Saddam Hussein to live up to the ceasefire agreement he signed and
make clear to the world how he disposed of weapons he previously
admitted to possessing."

Senator John Kerry (Democrat, Massachusetts)
Speech at Georgetown University
January 23, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#obD8blIHum

http://kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/cfm/record.cfm?id=189831
[Link Directly To This Entry]


Congressman Gephardt links Saddam with the threat of
terrorists nuking US cities:

BOB SCHIEFFER, Chief Washington Correspondent: And with us now is the
Democratic presidential candidate *** Gephardt. Congressman, you
supported taking military action in Iraq. Do you think now it was the
right thing to do?

REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT, D-MO, Democratic Presidential Candidate: I do.
I base my determination on what I heard from the CIA. I went out
there a couple of times and talked to everybody, including George
Tenet. I talked to people in the Clinton administration.

SCHIEFFER: Well, let me just ask you, do you feel, Congressman, that
you were misled?

GEPHARDT: I don't. I asked very direct questions of the top people in
the CIA and people who'd served in the Clinton administration. And
they said they believed that Saddam Hussein either had weapons or had
the components of weapons or the ability to quickly make weapons of
mass destruction. What we're worried about is an A-bomb in a Ryder
truck in New York, in Washington and St. Louis. It cannot happen. We
have to prevent it from happening. And it was on that basis that I
voted to do this.

Congressman Richard Gephardt (Democrat, Montana)
Interviewed on CBS News "Face the Nation"
November 2, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Ect1IpgYlV

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/03/ftn/printable581509.shtml
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"We have not reached parity with them. We have the
right to kill 4 million Americans -- 2 million of them children -- and
to exile twice as many and wound and cripple hundreds of thousands.
Furthermore, it is our right to fight them with chemical and
biological weapons, so as to afflict them with the fatal maladies that
have afflicted the Muslims because of the [Americans'] chemical and
biological weapons."

Islamic terrorist group "Al Qaeda"
June 12, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#oX1nOhykE8


http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=sd&ID=SP38802
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"[W]e have evidence of meetings between Iraqi
officials and leaders of al Qaeda, and testimony that Iraqi agents
helped train al Qaeda operatives to use chemical and biological
weapons. We also know that al Qaeda leaders have been, and are now,
harbored in Iraq.

Having reached the conclusion I have about the clear and present
danger Saddam represents to the U.S., I want to give the president a
limited but strong mandate to act against Saddam."

Senator Joseph Lieberman (Democrat, Connecticut)
In a Wall Street Journal editorial Lieberman authored titled: "Why
Democrats Should Support the President on Iraq"
October 7, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Wri9BilASc

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110002391
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"Dear Mr. President: ... We urge you, after consulting with Congress,
and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary
actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect
Iraq sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's
refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."

Sincerely,

John Kerry, Carl Levin, Joe Lieberman, Frank R. Lautenberg, ***
Lugar, Kit Bond, Jon Kyl, Chris Dodd, John McCain, Kay Bailey
Hutchison, Alfonse D'Amato, Bob Kerrey, Pete V. Domenici, Dianne
Feinstein, Barbara A. Mikulski, Thomas Daschle, John Breaux, Tim
Johnson, Daniel K. Inouye, Arlen Specter, James Inhofe, Strom
Thurmond, Mary L. Landrieu, Wendell Ford, Chuck Grassley, Jesse Helms,
Rick Santorum.

Letter to President Clinton
Signed by Senators Tom Daschle, John Kerry and others
October 9, 1998

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#oPi7NipoMS


http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/US/Letters,%20reports%20and%20statements/levin-10-9-98.html


[Link Directly To This Entry]


"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has
proven impossible to completely deter and we should assume that it
will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.

We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical
weapons throughout his country."

Al Gore, Former Clinton Vice-President
Speech to San Francisco Commonwealth Club
September 23, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Pa3cOFlEv2

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-09-23-gore-text_x.htm
[Link Directly To This Entry]


Al Gore said last night that the time had come for a
"final reckoning" with Iraq, describing the country as a "virulent
threat in a class by itself" and suggesting that the United States
should consider ways to oust Saddam Hussein.

"Even if we give first priority to the destruction of terrorist
networks, and even if we succeed, there are still governments that
could bring us great harm. And there is a clear case that one of
these governments in particular represents a virulent threat in a
class by itself: Iraq. As far as I am concerned, a final reckoning
with that government should be on the table."

The New York Times
Gore, Championing Bush, Calls For a 'Final Reckoning' With Iraq
February 13, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#uL6UnbEla5

http://query.nytimes.com/search/
abstract?res=F10B1FFF3D5B0C708DDDAB0894DA404482
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October
of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retained some
stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since
embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological
warfare capability. Intelligence reports also indicate that he is
seeking nuclear weapons, but has not yet achieved nuclear capability."

Robert C. Byrd
Former Ku Klux Klan recruiter, currently a US Senator (Democrat,
West Virginia)
Addressing the US Senate
October 3, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#aH2aMpkoSE

http://australianpolitics.com/news/2002/10/02-10-03a.shtml
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"Iraq appears not to have come to a genuine acceptance
-- not even today -- of the disarmament, which was demanded of it and
which it needs to carry out to win the confidence of the world and to
live in peace."

Dr. Hans Blix, Chief UN Weapons Inspector
Addressing the UN Security Council
January 27, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Co7yEWisM2

http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusnewsiraq.asp?NewsID=354&sID=6

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/01/27/sprj.irq.transcript.blix
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"The nerve agent VX is one of the most toxic ever
developed.

13,000 chemical bombs were dropped by the Iraqi Air Force between 1983
and 1988, while Iraq has declared that 19,500 bombs were consumed
during this period. Thus, there is a discrepancy of 6,500 bombs. The
amount of chemical agent in these bombs would be in the order of about
1,000 tonnes."

Dr. Hans Blix, Chief UN Weapons Inspector
Addressing the UN Security Council
January 27, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#aRb7bYgHac

http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusnewsiraq.asp?NewsID=354&sID=6

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/01/27/sprj.irq.transcript.blix
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"The recent inspection find in the private home of a
scientist of a box of some 3,000 pages of documents, much of it
relating to the laser enrichment of uranium support a concern that has
long existed that documents might be distributed to the homes of
private individuals. ...we cannot help but think that the case might
not be isolated and that such placements of documents is deliberate to
make discovery difficult and to seek to shield documents by placing
them in private homes."

Dr. Hans Blix, Chief UN Weapons Inspector
Addressing the UN Security Council
January 27, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Wei7bOcUrk

http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusnewsiraq.asp?NewsID=354&sID=6

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/01/27/sprj.irq.transcript.blix
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"I have mentioned the issue of anthrax to the Council
on previous occasions and I come back to it as it is an important one.

Iraq has declared that it produced about 8,500 litres of this
biological warfare agent, which it states it unilaterally destroyed in
the summer of 1991. Iraq has provided little evidence for this
production and no convincing evidence for its destruction.

There are strong indications that Iraq produced more anthrax than it
declared, and that at least some of this was retained after the
declared destruction date. It might still exist. Either it should be
found and be destroyed under UNMOVIC supervision or else convincing
evidence should be produced to show that it was, indeed, destroyed in
1991."

Dr. Hans Blix, Chief UN Weapons Inspector
Addressing the UN Security Council
January 27, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#aI2AlucOhI

http://www.un.org/apps/news/infocusnewsiraq.asp?NewsID=354&sID=6

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/01/27/sprj.irq.transcript.blix
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"His regime threatens the safety of his people, the
stability of his region, and the security of all the rest of us.

What if he fails to comply, and we fail to act, or we take some
ambiguous third route which gives him yet more opportunities to
develop this program of weapons of mass destruction and continue to
press for the release of the sanctions and continue to ignore the
solemn commitments that he made?

Well, he will conclude that the international community has lost its
will. He will then conclude that he can go right on and do more to
rebuild an arsenal of devastating destruction.

And some day, some way, I guarantee you, he'll use the arsenal."

President Clinton
Address to Joint Chiefs of Staff and Pentagon staff
February 17, 1998

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Od8bLAfoX3

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/02/17/transcripts/clinton.iraq/
[Link Directly To This Entry]


CNN: How did Hussein intend to use the weapon, once it
was completed?

HAMZA: Saddam has a whole range of weapons of mass destruction,
nuclear, biological and chemical. According to German intelligence
estimates, we expect him to have three nuclear weapons by 2005. So,
the window will close by 2005, and we expect him then to be a lot more
aggressive with his neighbors and encouraging terrorism, and using
biological weapons. Now he's using them through surrogates like al
Qaeda, but we expect he'll use them more aggressively then.

Dr. Khidhir Hamza, former Iraqi Nuclear Scientist for 20 years
Interviewed on CNN
October 22, 2001

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#lOg4gArOLu

http://www.cnn.com/2001/COMMUNITY/10/22/hamza.cnna/
[Link Directly To This Entry]


CNN
October 10, 2002

House gives Bush authority for war with Iraq

The House voted 296-133 to give Bush the authority to use U.S.
military force to make Iraq comply with U.N. resolutions requiring it
to give up weapons of mass destruction.

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Puc8fOCzXy

http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/10/iraq.us
[Link Directly To This Entry]


CNN
October 11, 2002

Senate approves Iraq war resolution

In a major victory for the White House, the Senate early Friday voted
77-23 to authorize President Bush to attack Iraq if Saddam Hussein
refuses to give up weapons of mass destruction as required by U.N.
resolutions.

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#vAm1nUcPoM

http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/11/iraq.us
[Link Directly To This Entry]


On December 12th, 2003, US forces captured Saddam
Hussein as he hid in a dirt hole in Adwar, 10 miles from Tikrit.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we got him," Paul Bremer, the US administrator
in Iraq, announced. "The tyrant is a prisoner."

At a Baghdad press conference officials showed a videotape of Saddam's
inspection following his capture. When the former dictator's face
appeared onscreen, Iraqi journalists in the audience immediately
jumped up shouting uncontrollably "Death to Saddam!" and "Go to Hell
Saddam!" and later broke down sobbing.

"He was caught like a rat," said Major General Ray Odierno of the 4th
Infantry Division. "It was ironic that he was in a hole in the ground
across the river from the great palaces he built using all the money
he robbed from the Iraqi people."

In Baghdad, radio stations played celebratory music, residents fired
small arms in the air in celebration, and others drove through the
streets, shouting, "They got Saddam! They got Saddam!"

The former dictator was found with a pistol and $750,000 in US
currency.

Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez said "Saddam Hussein will never
return to a position of power from which he can punish, terrorize,
intimidate and exploit the Iraqi people as the did for more than 35
years."

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#eI5pUfoAiN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZYF3w_8Tgk
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"Some have said we must not act until the threat is
imminent. Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their
intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike? If this
threat is permitted to fully and suddenly emerge, all actions, all
words, and all recriminations would come too late. Trusting in the
sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein is not a strategy, and it is
not an option."

President Bush
State of the Union address
January 28, 2003

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Dh0deIOfeR

http://whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030128-19.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"We are finding people even as we speak. Yet we know
that there is a very grim task ahead to do everything we can to find
every person, to account for every single person who went to work.
That is all they did: they went to work, on a beautiful September day
in New York.

We will also stand united behind our President as he and his advisors
plan the necessary actions to demonstrate America's resolve and
commitment. Not only to seek out an exact punishment on the
perpetrators, but to make very clear that not only those who harbor
terrorists, but those who in any way aid or comfort them whatsoever
will now face the wrath of our country. And I hope that that message
has gotten through to everywhere it needs to be heard. You are either
with America in our time of need or you are not.

We also stand united behind our resolve -- as this resolution so
clearly states -- to recover and rebuild in the aftermath of these
tragic acts. You know, New York was not an accidental choice for
these madmen, these terrorists, these instruments of evil."

Senator Hillary Clinton (Democrat, New York)
Addressing the US Senate
September 12, 2001

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#elY8fRInrE

http://www.senate.gov/~clinton/news/statements/details.cfm?id=235656
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"The global community -- in the form of the United
Nations -- has declared repeatedly, through multiple resolutions, that
the frightening prospect of a nuclear-armed Saddam cannot come to
pass. But the U.N. has been unable to enforce those resolutions. We
must eliminate that threat now, before it is too late.

But this isn't just a future threat. Saddam's existing biological and
chemical weapons capabilities pose a very real threat to America, now.
Saddam has used chemical weapons before, both against Iraq's enemies
and against his own people. He is working to develop delivery systems
like missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles that could bring these
deadly weapons against U.S. forces and U.S. facilities in the Middle
East.

As the attacks of September 11 demonstrated, the immense
destructiveness of modern technology means we can no longer afford to
wait around for a smoking gun. September 11 demonstrated that the
fact that an attack on our homeland has not yet occurred cannot give
us any false sense of security that one will not occur in the future.
We no longer have that luxury.

September 11 changed America. It made us realize we must deal
differently with the very real threat of terrorism, whether it comes
from shadowy groups operating in the mountains of Afghanistan or in 70
other countries around the world, including our own.

There has been some debate over how "imminent" a threat Iraq poses. I
do believe that Iraq poses an imminent threat, but I also believe that
after September 11, that question is increasingly outdated. It is in
the nature of these weapons, and the way they are targeted against
civilian populations, that documented capability and demonstrated
intent may be the only warning we get. To insist on further evidence
could put some of our fellow Americans at risk. Can we afford to take
that chance? We cannot!

The President has rightly called Saddam Hussein's efforts to develop
weapons of mass destruction a grave and gathering threat to Americans.
The global community has tried but failed to address that threat over
the past decade. I have come to the inescapable conclusion that the
threat posed to America by Saddam's weapons of mass destruction is so
serious that despite the risks -- and we should not minimize the risks
-- we must authorize the President to take the necessary steps to deal
with that threat."

Senator John D. Rockefeller (Democrat, West Virginia)
Also a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee
Addressing the US Senate
October 10, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Pe3eIHamyI

http://www.senate.gov/~rockefeller/news/2002/flrstmt0102002.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]


UN weapons inspectors were forced to leave Iraq in
1998:

CNN
November 5, 1998

U.N. Security Council votes to condemn Iraq

The United Nations Security Council late Thursday voted unanimously to
condemn Iraq and to demand that Baghdad immediately resume cooperation
with U.N. weapons inspectors. Baghdad has already said it will not
comply.

The resolution called Iraq's decision last week to halt cooperation
with the U.N. Special Commission a "flagrant violation" of the 1991
resolution on Iraqi disarmament. It is the 45th U.N. resolution
involving Iraq since the country invaded Kuwait in 1990.

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Et9LuFlwaG

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/meast/9811/05/un.iraq.02
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I
firmly believe that the issue of Iraq is not about politics. It's
about national security. We know that for at least 20 years, Saddam
Hussein has obsessively sought weapons of mass destruction through
every means available. We know that he has chemical and biological
weapons today. He has used them in the past, and he is doing
everything he can to build more. Each day he inches closer to his
longtime goal of nuclear capability -- a capability that could be less
than a year away.

I believe that Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime represents a clear threat
to the United States, to our allies, to our interests around the
world, and to the values of freedom and democracy we hold dear.

What's more, the terrorist threat against America is all too clear.
Thousands of terrorist operatives around the world would pay anything
to get their hands on Saddam's arsenal, and there is every possibility
that he could turn his weapons over to these terrorists. No one can
doubt that if the terrorists of September 11th had weapons of mass
destruction, they would have used them. On September 12, 2002, we can
hardly ignore the terrorist threat, and the serious danger that Saddam
would allow his arsenal to be used in aid of terror.

The time has come for decisive action. With our allies, we must do
whatever is necessary to guard against the threat posed by an Iraq
armed with weapons of mass destruction, and under the thumb of Saddam
Hussein.

The United States must lead an international effort to remove the
regime of Saddam Hussein -- and to assure that Iraq fulfills its
obligations to the international community.

This is not an easy decision, and it carries many risks. It will also
carry costs, certainly in resources, and almost certainly in lives.
After careful consideration, I believe that the risk of inaction is
far greater than the risk of action.

We must address the most insidious threat posed by weapons of mass
destruction -- the threat that comes from the ability of terrorists to
obtain them.

The path of confronting Saddam is full of hazards. But the path of
inaction is far more dangerous. This week, a week where we remember
the sacrifice of thousands of innocent Americans made on 9-11, the
choice could not be starker. Had we known that such attacks were
imminent, we surely would have used every means at our disposal to
prevent them and take out the plotters. We cannot wait for such a
terrible event -- or, if weapons of mass destruction are used, one far
worse -- to address the clear and present danger posed by Saddam
Hussein's Iraq."

Senator John Edwards (Democrat, North Carolina)
Addressing the US Senate
September 12, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#nOb6YoJuxb

http://edwards.senate.gov/statements/20020912_iraq.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]




"Dear Mr. President:

The events of September 11 have highlighted the vulnerability of the
United States to determined terrorists. As we work to clean up
Afghanistan and destroy al Qaeda, it is imperative that we plan to
eliminate the threat from Iraq.

This December will mark three years since United Nations inspectors
last visited Iraq. There is no doubt that since that time, Saddam
Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs.

The threat from Iraq is real, and it cannot be permanently contained.
For as long as Saddam Hussein is in power in Baghdad, he will seek to
acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. We
have no doubt that these deadly weapons are intended for use against
the United States and its allies. Consequently, we believe we must
directly confront Saddam, sooner rather than later.

Mr. President, all indications are that in the interest of our own
national security, Saddam Hussein must be removed from power."

Sincerely,

Congressman Harold Ford (Democrat, Tennessee)
Senator Bob Graham (Democrat, Florida)
Congressman Tom Lantos (Democrat, California)
Senator Joseph Lieberman (Democrat, Connecticut)

Senator Sam Brownback (Republican, Kansas)
Senator Jesse Helms (Republican, North Carolina)
Congressman Henry Hyde (Republican, Illinois)
Senator Trent Lott (Republican, Mississippi)
Senator John McCain (Republican, Arizona)
Senator Richard Shelby (Republican, Alabama)

Letter to President Bush
December 5, 2001

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#buC9BrswAg

http://www.house.gov/ford/12_06_01a.htm
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"He has systematically violated, over the course of
the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded
that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and
any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do. He lies and cheats;
he snubs the mandate and authority of international weapons
inspectors; and he games the system to keep buying time against
enforcement of the just and legitimate demands of the United Nations,
the Security Council, the United States and our allies. Those are
simply the facts."

Congressman Henry Waxman (Democrat, California)
Addressing the US Congress
October 10, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Cy7hyDcUdi


http://www.house.gov/waxman/news_files/news_statements_res_iraq_10_10_02.htm
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"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."

President Clinton
National Address from the Oval Office
December 16, 1998

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#baS7aVmeAo

http://clinton4.nara.gov/WH/New/html/19981216-3611.html


http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/16/transcripts/clinton.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]


"Ten years after the Gulf War and Saddam is still
there and still continues to stockpile weapons of mass destruction.
Now there are suggestions he is working with al Qaeda, which means the
very terrorists who attacked the United States last September may now
have access to chemical and biological weapons."

James P. Rubin, President Clinton's State Department spokesman
In a PBS documentary titled "Saddam's Ultimate Solution"
July 11, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Fid4hOKidO

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/saddam/
[Link Directly To This Entry]


Full text of Resolution authorizing US military force
against Iraq.

US Senators who voted YES to authorize the use of United States Armed
Forces against Iraq:

Allard, Wayne (R-CO)
Allen, George (R-VA)
Baucus, Max (D-MT)
Bayh, Evan (D-IN)
Bennett, Robert (R-UT)
Biden, Joseph (D-DE)
Bond, Christopher (R-MO)
Breaux, John (D-LA)
Brownback, Sam (R-KS)
Bunning, Jim (R-KY)
Burns, Conrad (R-MT)
Campbell, Ben (R-CO)
Cantwell, Maria (D-WA)
Carnahan, Jean (D-MO)
Carper, Thomas (D-DE)
Cleland, Max (D-GA)
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY)
Cochran, Thad (R-MS)
Collins, Susan (R-ME)
Craig, Larry (R-ID)
Crapo, Michael (R-ID)
Daschle, Tom (D-SD)
DeWine, Mike (R-OH)
Dodd, Christopher (D-CT)
Domenici, Pete (R-NM)
Dorgan, Byron (D-ND)
Edwards, John (D-NC)
Ensign, John (R-NV)
Enzi, Michael (R-WY)
Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA)
Fitzgerald, Peter (R-IL)
Frist, Bill (R-TN)
Gramm, Phil (R-TX)
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA)
Gregg, Judd (R-NH)
Hagel, Chuck (R-NE)
Harkin, Tom (D-IA)
Hatch, Orrin (R-UT)
Helms, Jesse (R-NC)
Hollings, Ernest (D-SC)
Hutchinson, Tim (R-AR)
Hutchison, Kay (R-TX)
Inhofe, James (R-OK)
Johnson, Tim (D-SD)
Kerry, John (D-MA)
Kohl, Herb (D-WI)
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ)
Landrieu, Mary (D-LA)
Lieberman, Joseph (D-CT)
Lincoln, Blanche (D-AR)
Lott, Trent (R-MS)
Lugar, Richard (R-IN)
McCain, John (R-AZ)
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)
Miller, Zell (D-GA)
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK)
Nelson, Bill (D-FL)
Nelson, Ben (D-NE)
Nickles, Don (R-OK)
Reid, Harry (D-NV)
Roberts, Pat (R-KS)
Rockefeller, John (D-WV)
Santorum, Rick (R-PA)
Schumer, Charles (D-NY)
Sessions, Jeff (R-AL)
Shelby, Richard (R-AL)
Smith, Robert (R-NH)
Smith, Gordon (R-OR)
Snowe, Olympia (R-ME)
Specter, Arlen (R-PA)
Stevens, Ted (R-AK)
Thomas, Craig (R-WY)
Thompson, Fred (R-TN)
Thurmond, Strom (R-SC)
Torricelli, Robert (D-NJ)
Voinovich, George (R-OH)
Warner, John (R-VA)


http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Li6mUSanCu
[Link Directly To This Entry]


Full text of Resolution authorizing US military force
against Iraq.

US Congressional Representatives who voted YES to authorize the use of
United States Armed Forces against Iraq:

Ackerman
Aderholt
Akin
Andrews
Armey
Bachus
Baker
Ballenger
Barcia
Barr
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Bentsen
Bereuter
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Biggert
Bilirakis
Bishop
Blagojevich
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bono
Boozman
Borski
Boswell
Boucher
Boyd
Brady (TX)
Brown (SC)
Bryant
Burr
Burton
Buyer
Callahan
Calvert
Camp
Cannon
Cantor
Capito
Carson (OK)
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Clement
Coble
Collins
Combest
Cooksey
Cox
Cramer
Crane
Crenshaw
Crowley
Cubin
Culberson
Cunningham
Davis (FL)
Davis, Jo Ann
Davis, Tom
Deal
DeLay
DeMint
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart
Dicks
Dooley
Doolittle
Dreier
Dunn
Edwards
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
Engel
English
Etheridge
Everett
Ferguson
Flake
Fletcher
Foley
Forbes
Ford
Fossella
Frelinghuysen
Frost
Gallegly
Ganske
Gekas
Gephardt
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gilman
Goode
Goodlatte
Gordon
Goss
Graham
Granger
Graves
Green (TX)
Green (WI)
Greenwood
Grucci
Gutknecht
Hall (TX)
Hansen
Harman
Hart
Hastert
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Hefley
Herger
Hill
Hilleary
Hobson
Hoeffel
Hoekstra
Holden
Horn
Hoyer
Hulshof
Hunter
Hyde
Isakson
Israel
Issa
Istook
Jefferson
Jenkins
John
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Kanjorski
Keller
Kelly
Kennedy (MN)
Kennedy (RI)
Kerns
Kind (WI)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Knollenberg
Kolbe
LaHood
Lampson
Lantos
Latham
LaTourette
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (KY)
Linder
LoBiondo
Lowey
Lucas (KY)
Lucas (OK)
Luther
Lynch
Maloney (NY)
Manzullo
Markey
Mascara
Matheson
McCarthy (NY)
McCrery
McHugh
McInnis
McIntyre
McKeon
McNulty
Meehan
Mica
Miller, Dan
Miller, Gary
Miller, Jeff
Moore
Moran (KS)
Murtha
Myrick
Nethercutt
Ney
Northup
Norwood
Nussle
Osborne
Ose
Otter
Oxley
Pascrell
Pence
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Phelps
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Pombo
Pomeroy
Portman
Pryce (OH)
Putnam
Quinn
Radanovich
Ramstad
Regula
Rehberg
Reynolds
Riley
Roemer
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Ross
Rothman
Royce
Ryan (WI)
Ryun (KS)
Sandlin
Saxton
Schaffer
Schiff
Schrock
Sensenbrenner
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Sherman
Sherwood
Shimkus
Shows
Shuster
Simmons
Simpson
Skeen
Skelton
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Souder
Spratt
Stearns
Stenholm
Sullivan
Sununu
Sweeney
Tancredo
Tanner
Tauscher
Tauzin
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Terry
Thomas
Thornberry
Thune
Thurman
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Toomey
Turner
Upton
Vitter
Walden
Walsh
Wamp
Watkins (OK)
Watts (OK)
Waxman
Weiner
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Wexler
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (SC)
Wolf
Wynn
Young (AK)
Young (FL)


http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#lE6HardHSh
[Link Directly To This Entry]


US State Department
November 4, 1998

Bin Laden, Atef Indicted in U.S. Federal Court for African Bombings

New York -- Usama bin Laden and Muhammad Atef were indicted November 4
in Manhattan federal court for the August 7 bombings of the US
embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and for
conspiring to kill Americans outside the United States.

Bin Laden's "al Qaeda" organization functioned both on its own and
through other terrorist organizations, including the Al Jihad group
based in Egypt, the Islamic Group also known as el Gamaa Islamia led
at one time by Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, and a number of other jihad
groups in countries such as Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and
Somalia.

Bin Laden, the US Attorney charged, engaged in business transactions
on behalf of Al Qaeda, including purchasing warehouses for storage of
explosives, transporting weapons, and establishing a series of
companies in Sudan to provide income to al Qaeda and as a cover for
the procurement of explosives, weapons, and chemicals, and for the
travel of operatives.

According to the indictment, bin Laden and al Qaeda forged alliances
with the National Islamic Front in Sudan and with representatives of
the Government of Iran and its associated terrorist group Hezballah
with the goal of working together against their common enemies in the
West, particularly the United States.

"In addition, al Qaeda reached an understanding with the Government of
Iraq that al Qaeda would not work against that government and that on
particular projects, specifically including weapons development, al
Qaeda would work cooperatively with the Government of Iraq," the
indictment said.

Beginning in 1992, bin Laden allegedly issued through his "fatwah"
committees a series of escalating "fatwahs" against the United States,
certain military personnel, and, eventually in February 1998, a
"fatwah" stating that Muslims should kill Americans -- including
civilians -- anywhere in the world they can be found.

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#bU0cUbIjUm

http://usinfo.state.gov/is/Archive_Index/
Bin_Laden_Atef_Indicted_in_U.S._Federal_Court_for_African_Bombings.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]


US Senators who voted YES to the "PATRIOT ACT" -
October 25, 2001:

Measure Number: H.R. 3162 (Uniting and Strengthening America by
Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct
Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001 )

Measure Title: A bill to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United
States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory
tools, and for other purposes.

Akaka, Daniel (D-HI)
Allard, Wayne (R-CO)
Allen, George (R-VA)
Baucus, Max (D-MT)
Bayh, Evan (D-IN)
Bennett, Robert (R-UT)
Biden, Joseph (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond, Christopher (R-MO)
Boxer, Barbara (D-CA)
Breaux, John (D-LA)
Brownback, Sam (R-KS)
Bunning, Jim (R-KY)
Burns, Conrad (R-MT)
Byrd, Robert (D-WV)
Campbell, Ben (R-CO)
Cantwell, Maria (D-WA)
Carnahan, Jean (D-MO)
Carper, Thomas (D-DE)
Chafee, Lincoln (R-RI)
Cleland, Max (D-GA)
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY)
Cochran, Thad (R-MS)
Collins, Susan (R-ME)
Conrad, Kent (D-ND)
Corzine, Jon (D-NJ)
Craig, Larry (R-ID)
Crapo, Michael (R-ID)
Daschle, Tom (D-SD)
Dayton, Mark (D-MN)
DeWine, Mike (R-OH)
Dodd, Christopher (D-CT)
Domenici, Pete (R-NM)
Dorgan, Byron (D-ND)
Durbin, Richard (D-IL)
Edwards, John (D-NC)
Ensign, John (R-NV)
Enzi, Michael (R-WY)
Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA)
Fitzgerald, Peter (R-IL)
Frist, Bill (R-TN)
Graham, Bob (D-FL)
Gramm, Phil (R-TX)
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA)
Gregg, Judd (R-NH)
Hagel, Chuck (R-NE)
Harkin, Tom (D-IA)
Hatch, Orrin (R-UT)
Helms, Jesse (R-NC)
Hollings, Ernest (D-SC)
Hutchinson, Tim (R-AR)
Hutchison, Kay (R-TX)
Inhofe, James (R-OK)
Inouye, Daniel (D-HI)
Jeffords, Jim (I-VT)
Johnson, Tim (D-SD)
Kennedy, Edward (D-MA)
Kerry, John (D-MA)
Kohl, Herb (D-WI)
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ)
Leahy, Patrick (D-VT)
Levin, Carl (D-MI)
Lieberman, Joseph (D-CT)
Lincoln, Blanche (D-AR)
Lott, Trent (R-MS)
Lugar, Richard (R-IN)
McCain, John (R-AZ)
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)
Mikulski, Barbara (D-MD)
Miller, Zell (D-GA)
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK)
Murray, Patty (D-WA)
Nelson, Bill (D-FL)
Nelson, Ben (D-NE)
Nickles, Don (R-OK)
Reed, Jack (D-RI)
Reid, Harry (D-NV)
Roberts, Pat (R-KS)
Rockefeller, John (D-WV)
Santorum, Rick (R-PA)
Sarbanes, Paul (D-MD)
Schumer, Charles (D-NY)
Sessions, Jeff (R-AL)
Shelby, Richard (R-AL)
Smith, Robert (R-NH)
Smith, Gordon (R-OR)
Snowe, Olympia (R-ME)
Specter, Arlen (R-PA)
Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI)
Stevens, Ted (R-AK)
Thomas, Craig (R-WY)
Thompson, Fred (R-TN)
Thurmond, Strom (R-SC)
Torricelli, Robert (D-NJ)
Voinovich, George (R-OH)
Warner, John (R-VA)
Wellstone, Paul (D-MN)
Wyden, Ron (D-OR)


http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#wiD2SafdoE
[Link Directly To This Entry]


US Senators who voted YES to reauthorize the "PATRIOT
ACT" - March 2, 2006:

Measure Number: H.R. 3199 (USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization
Act of 2005)

Measure Title: A bill to extend and modify authorities needed to
combat terrorism, and for other purposes.

Alexander, Lamar (R-TN)
Allard, Wayne (R-CO)
Allen, George (R-VA)
Baucus, Max (D-MT)
Bayh, Evan (D-IN)
Bennett, Robert (R-UT)
Biden, Joseph (D-DE)
Bond, Christopher (R-MO)
Boxer, Barbara (D-CA)
Brownback, Sam (R-KS)
Bunning, Jim (R-KY)
Burns, Conrad (R-MT)
Burr, Richard (R-NC)
Cantwell, Maria (D-WA)
Carper, Thomas (D-DE)
Chafee, Lincoln (R-RI)
Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA)
Clinton, Hillary (D-NY)
Coburn, Tom (R-OK)
Cochran, Thad (R-MS)
Coleman, Norm (R-MN)
Collins, Susan (R-ME)
Conrad, Kent (D-ND)
Cornyn, Jon (R-TX)
Craig, Larry (R-ID)
Crapo, Michael (R-ID)
Dayton, Mark (D-MN)
DeMint, Jim (R-SC)
DeWine, Mike (R-OH)
Dodd, Christopher (D-CT)
Dole, Elizabeth (R-NC)
Domenici, Pete (R-NM)
Dorgan, Byron (D-ND)
Durbin, Richard (D-IL)
Ensign, John (R-NV)
Enzi, Michael (R-WY)
Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA)
Frist, Bill (R-TN)
Graham, Lindsey (R-SC)
Grassley, Chuck (R-IA)
Gregg, Judd (R-NH)
Hagel, Chuck (R-NE)
Hatch, Orrin (R-UT)
Hutchison, Kay (R-TX)
Inhofe, James (R-OK)
Isakson, Johnny (R-GA)
Johnson, Tim (D-SD)
Kennedy, Edward (D-MA)
Kerry, John (D-MA)
Kohl, Herb (D-WI)
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ)
Landrieu, Mary (D-LA)
Lautenberg, Frank (D-NJ)
Lieberman, Joseph (D-CT)
Lincoln, Blanche (D-AR)
Lott, Trent (R-MS)
Lugar, Richard (R-IN)
Martinez, Mel (R-FL)
McCain, John (R-AZ)
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)
Menendez, Robert (D-NJ)
Mikulski, Barbara (D-MD)
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK)
Nelson, Ben (D-NE)
Nelson, Bill (D-FL)
Obama, Barack (D-IL)
Pryor, Mark (D-AR)
Reed, Jack (D-RI)
Reid, Harry (D-NV)
Roberts, Pat (R-KS)
Rockefeller, John (D-WV)
Salazar, Ken (D-CO)
Santorum, Rick (R-PA)
Sarbanes, Paul (D-MD)
Schumer, Charles (D-NY)
Sessions, Jeff (R-AL)
Shelby, Richard (R-AL)
Smith, Gordon (R-OR)
Snowe, Olympi (R-ME)
Specter, Arlen (R-PA)
Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI)
Stevens, Ted (R-AK)
Sununu, John (R-NH)
Talent, Jim (R-MO)
Thomas, Craig (R-WY)
Thune, John (R-SD)
Vitter, David (R-LA)
Voinovich, George (R-OH)
Warner, John (R-VA)


http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Ae3muFLaOb
[Link Directly To This Entry]


This entry is not related to Iraq specifically, but
contains some very interesting information. In August 2002 Richard A.
Clarke, former chief counter-terrorism adviser, discusses US strategy
in dealing with islamic terrorists:

RICHARD CLARKE: Actually, I've got about seven points, let me just go
through them quickly. Um, the first point, I think the overall point
is, there was no plan on Al Qaeda that was passed from the Clinton
administration to the Bush administration.

Second point is that the Clinton administration had a strategy in
place, effectively dating from 1998. And there were a number of
issues on the table since 1998. And they remained on the table when
that administration went out of office -- issues like aiding the
Northern Alliance in Afghanistan, changing our Pakistan policy -- uh,
changing our policy toward Uzbekistan. And in January 2001, the
incoming Bush administration was briefed on the existing strategy.
They were also briefed on these series of issues that had not been
decided on in a couple of years.

And the third point is the Bush administration decided then, you know,
in late January, to do two things. One, vigorously pursue the
existing policy, including all of the lethal covert action findings,
which we've now made public to some extent.

And the point is, while this big review was going on, there were still
in effect, the lethal findings were still in effect. The second thing
the administration decided to do is to initiate a process to look at
those issues which had been on the table for a couple of years and get
them decided.

So, point five, that process which was initiated in the first week in
February, uh, decided in principle, uh in the spring to add to the
existing Clinton strategy and to increase CIA resources, for example,
for covert action, five-fold, to go after Al Qaeda.

The sixth point, the newly-appointed deputies -- and you had to
remember, the deputies didn't get into office until late March, early
April. The deputies then tasked the development of the implementation
details, uh, of these new decisions that they were endorsing, and
sending out to the principals.

Over the course of the summer -- last point -- they developed
implementation details, the principals met at the end of the summer,
approved them in their first meeting, changed the strategy by
authorizing the increase in funding five-fold, changing the policy on
Pakistan, changing the policy on Uzbekistan, changing the policy on
the Northern Alliance assistance.

And then changed the strategy from one of rollback with Al Qaeda over
the course of five years, which it had been, to a new strategy that
called for the rapid elimination of Al Qaeda. That is in fact the
timeline.

QUESTION: What is your response to the suggestion in the [Aug 12,
2002] Time [magazine] article that the Bush administration was
unwilling to take on board the suggestions made in the Clinton
administration because of animus against the -- general animus against
the foreign policy?

CLARKE: I think if there was a general animus that clouded their
vision, they might not have kept the same guy dealing with terrorism
issue. This is the one issue where the National Security Council
leadership decided continuity was important and kept the same guy
around, the same team in place. That doesn't sound like animus
against, uh, the previous team to me.

JIM ANGLE: You're saying that the Bush administration did not stop
anything that the Clinton administration was doing while it was making
these decisions, and by the end of the summer had increased money for
covert action five-fold. Is that correct?

CLARKE: All of that's correct.

ANGLE: So, just to finish up if we could then, so what you're saying
is that there was no -- one, there was no plan; two, there was no
delay; and that actually the first changes since October of '98 were
made in the spring months just after the administration came into
office?

CLARKE: You got it. That's right.

Richard A. Clarke
Former chief counter-terrorism adviser
August, 2002

http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html#Lem3epOAga

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,115085,00.html
[Link Directly To This Entry]
Note: As some of these comments above are embarrassing, some of the
specific web pages cited may mysteriously disappear. In some cases,
multiple links have been provided to bypass such disappearances.

Links to the above cited web pages were all working and verified at
the time of posting, and the original web pages and text have been
archived in their entirety for historical purposes. All dates and
citations provided are 100% accurate to facilitate further research.
http://freedomagenda.com/iraq/wmd_quotes.html
.

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