Clinton on German TV: "It was a mistake for us to attack Iraq"

Spiegel-Online ^ | July 11, 2004 | Spiegel-Online

[longjack]

CLINTON IN BERLIN

"It was a mistake for us to attack Iraq"

Berlin was in Clinton fever over the weekend. The former U.S. president Bill Clinton stayed in the capital to deliver his autobiography to readers. On the TV show "Sabine Christiansen", he also sharply criticized the government of his successor, George W. Bush.

DDP

Welcome Guest in Berlin: Ex-President Clinton

Berlin - It was a mistake for us to attack Iraq before (UN head weapons inspector) Hans Blix had finished his work", Clinton said on the ARD program last night. There hadn't been any definite proof that the regime of then Iraqi president Saddam Hussein had possessed weapons of mass destruction. "We didn't have knowledge about it, that he (Saddam) had nuclear weapons. We didn't have any knowledge either that he had something to do with September 11th, Clinton said". The US had only known that Saddam had chemical and biological stocks at his disposal which could have served in the production of weapons of mass destruction.

Furthermore, Clinton emphasized he had "never promoted the idea" that there was a connection between Saddam Hussein and the terror network Al-Qaeda. The threat by Al-Qaeda is currently biggest danger to the US. After the Iraq war, America and the whole world should be taking an interest that a pluralistic, democratic government establishes itself in Iraq. The former U.S. president also spoke out in favor of a stronger NATO presence in Iraq. Clinton expressed the conviction that German-American relations, which have been shaken by the Iraq war, will normalize again.

....end excerpt.

Remainder of article discusses crowd reaction, etc.

"Spiegel-Online".... "Es war ein Fehler von uns, den Irak anzugreifen"

Translated by longjack

[longjack]

There you go again....

longjack

[longjack]

German ping.

[ChadGore]

what a suck.

[Az. Mike]

Earth to Clinton: Just cleaning up your 'legacy', scumbag.

[kb2614]

Always the showman, just playing to the crowd. What a buffoon.

[LibKill]

I wish he'd stay there. Let him pollute Germany instead of the U.S.

[ASA Vet]

[Izzy Dunne]

The threat by Al-Qaeda is currently biggest danger to the US.

I don't know - Jacques Al-Qerry is way up there and Billl Clinton is still in the running.

[Cvengr]

I think maybe the German press are confusing Clinton for David Hasselhoff.

[Vesuvian]

If in 10 years time astronauts land on Mars and bring back a disease, "Mars Fever," that starts ravaging the globe, slick willy will trot out and claim that during his presidency (gag) he worked night and day to find a cure, and he found it, but Republicans dumped the only vial down the drain. This man thing is a deluded piece of work.

[Sacajaweau]

Tell the SOB that we used the same intelligence that he passed to us when he left office. It's the same dude that he let go because he was too busy. Show that picture of Hillary kissing Arafat's wife....or better yet, blow it up to poster size for her 2008 campaign!!!!!

[Jagdgewehr]

To the German Press:

Es war ein Fehler von uns, Clinton zu wählen.

[7thson]

When President Bush gave his first speech after 9/11, he said that the United States was going after terrorism. If people thought he meant only Al Qaidi and Ossama, then they were delusional. President Bush means all terrorism.

[Just mythoughts]

Man he sure looks OLD. Everytime he goes to Europe I always wonder what kind of INTEL he dumps from the mrs.

[Neville72]

For the second time in U.S. history a former president on foreign soil has said current policy is a mistake while American soldiers are involved in combat. Is it any surprise that on both occasions the offending president was a Democrat?

Clinton and Jimmy Carter, both failures in their own unique way, are beneath contempt. George Will had it exactly right when he opined on Clinton's legacy. "While Bill Clinton will not go down in history as the worst president we've ever had, he is the worst person we've ever had as president."(paraphrase)

[stocksthatgoup]

It's Just Like Being Back In College. Clinton loves to criticize his country on foreign soil. No doubt the Euro-putzs will adore him. Must be running for head of the UN with Jacque Chirac's blessing.

[Sacajaweau]

Made my day with the picture!!

[Wyatt's Torch]

Will also called Clinton an "amazing president." He said is was "amazing" that he accomplished almost nothing during his term in office. To be there for eight years and have absolutely nothing to show for it save two Republican ideas (NAFTA and Welfare reform) and a stained blue dress is truly amazing.

[hadaclueonce]

well done picture..