Posted on 09/26/2002 5:12:06 PM PDT by tomball
Madeleine Albright, the US secretary of state under Bill Clinton, on Thursday accused some members of the Bush administration of an "irrational exuberance for this conflict" with Iraq.
Speaking before the Senate committee on foreign relations, Ms Albright said: "It is not an American trait to want war.
"And it is not a sign of sound leadership to understate the risks of war or to offer constantly shifting rationales - as this administration has - for undertaking such a venture," Ms Albright said.
Her comments followed a speech earlier this week by Al Gore, the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the presidency in 2000, who criticised the Bush administration for its handling of the war on terror and warned against a unilateral assault on Iraq.
Taken together, the criticism offers a rallying call for what has so far been generally muted Democrat opposition to Mr Bush's approach to Iraq.
The president on Thursday met 17 members of the US House of Representatives to encourage support for a tough resolution from Congress authorising the use of force to oust Saddam Hussein.
Ms Albright on Thursday urged Congress to give Mr Bush that authority, but she also called for a more restrictive resolution.
She noted that the language presented by the White House would authorise the use of force unrelated to any specific countries, threats, American interests or periods of time.
Ms Albright warned against pursuing Iraq when the "more urgent threat" remains al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.
"This is not the time or place for short attention spans," she said.
She also warned that the US could face a "no-win choice" in the post-Saddam Hussein era.
"A prolonged US military occupation of the country that served as the cultural capital of Islam during that civilisation's Golden Age. . . would hand a new organising tool to anti-American terrorists worldwide."
On the other hand, a quick withdrawal could plunge the country into factionalism and civil war.
"It is naive to think that a peaceful and democratic Iraq will automatically emerge from the ashes of our invasion," Ms Albright said.
Also appearing before the Senate foreign relations committee was Henry Kissinger, the former secretary of state.
Mr Kissinger also urged Congress to give the president the authority to use military force, but he raised concerns about the Bush administration's commitment to the principle of pre-emptive military action.
"It cannot be either the American national interest or the world's interest to develop principles that grant every nation an unfettered right of pre-emption against its own definition of threats to its security," Mr Kissinger said.
He also called on the administration, in conjunction with other great powers, to establish a new international order to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Interesting quote. Some $97 million was appropriated by the Clinton administration for this purpose.
Some $96 million remains in the account today...
Posted on 09/14/2002 8:43 PM Pacific by The Great Satan
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- From the Oval Office, President Clinton told the nation Wednesday evening why he ordered new military strikes against Iraq.
The president said Iraq's refusal to cooperate with U.N. weapons inspectors presented a threat to the entire world.
"Saddam (Hussein) must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons," Clinton said.
Operation Desert Fox, a strong, sustained series of attacks, will be carried out over several days by U.S. and British forces, Clinton said.
"Earlier today I ordered America's armed forces to strike military and security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces," Clinton said.
"Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors," said Clinton.
Clinton also stated that, while other countries also had weapons of mass destruction, Hussein is in a different category because he has used such weapons against his own people and against his neighbors.
The Iraqi leader was given a final warning six weeks ago, Clinton said, when Baghdad promised to cooperate with U.N. inspectors at the last minute just as U.S. warplanes were headed its way.
"Along with Prime Minister (Tony) 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," Clinton said.
The president said the report handed in Tuesday by Richard Butler, head of the United Nations Special Commission in charge of finding and destroying Iraqi weapons, was stark and sobering.
Iraq failed to cooperate with the inspectors and placed new restrictions on them, Clinton said. He said Iraqi officials also destroyed records and moved everything, even the furniture, out of suspected sites before inspectors were allowed in.
"Instead of inspectors disarming Saddam, Saddam has disarmed the inspectors," Clinton said.
"In halting our airstrikes in November, I gave Saddam a chance -- not a license. If we turn our backs on his defiance, the credibility of U.S. power as a check against Saddam will be destroyed," the president explained.
Clinton said he made the decision to strike Wednesday with the unanimous agreement of his security advisors.
Timing was important, said the president, because without a strong inspection system in place, Iraq could rebuild its chemical, biological and nuclear programs in a matter of months, not years.
"If Saddam can cripple the weapons inspections system and get away with it, he would conclude the international community, led by the United States, has simply lost its will," said Clinton. "He would surmise that he has free rein to rebuild his arsenal of destruction."
Clinton also called Hussein a threat to his people and to 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," Clinton said.
Such a change in Baghdad would take time and effort, Clinton said, adding that his administration would work with Iraqi opposition forces.
Clinton also addressed the ongoing impeachment crisis in the White House.
"Saddam Hussein and the other enemies of peace may have thought that the serious debate currently before the House of Representatives would distract Americans or weaken our resolve to face him down," he said.
"But once more, the United States has proven that although we are never eager to use force, when we must act in America's vital interests, we will do so."
President Bush will not take this country and our allies into a war that cannot be won or an unnecessary war; he has too much respect for our military. He is pushing as hard as he can to get the United Nations to honor their commitments and our own elected to get off the dime both here at home and abroad and he has Saddam’s attention! Tom Daschle is screaming he is so terrified his party is loosing power---not that his country may be in eminent danger from a deranged tyrant; NO he wants to show the world that He, Tom Daschle, the man who stood behind and for a failed, lying, womanizing, flag burning, rapist Bill Clinton, is bringing the Bush administration to its knees. He is, it would seem determined to stall the Bush administration on all fronts from judges, bills to the war effort on terrorism. Tom Daschle is not the man he thinks he is; this cur is going to get his whupping and soon.
E-mail the White House and urge the President to stand firm on his commitments for the economy and for the security of the United States, ask him to squash the man from South Dakota. Pay no mind to the Albrights, ex-president Carter and all the other nay-say’ers. Keep in mind the media is eating this up and egging it on. All who can, would be wise to discontinue their subscriptions to any and all news papers until after the election, there is no truth in them anyway. McCain’s Finance Reform is already going down in flames, it was never workable.
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Secretary of State Madeleine Albright wasted no time denouncing Senator Jesse Helms' address to the UN. Using an opportunity to meet with the UN Security Council, Secretary Albright sought to smooth ruffled feathers among her former colleagues. |
"Let me be clear," she said. "Only the president and the executive branch can speak for the United States." - Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Jan. 2000
http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0200helms.htm
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