Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
The funny thing is, we now know that Clinton's Iraq policy worked. Iraq abandoned its WMD development after attacks Clinton ordered. Those -- like you -- who want to pretend that Clinton wasn't tough enough towards Hussein have the blood of 2,500 American soldiers and countless Iraqis on their hands. It's war for the sake of a political pose.
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Did you read those quotes? It is clear no one thought Clinton or Bush I's policies were working. Everyone in the Clinton administration assumed that Saddam was still building WMDs right up until the end of Clinton's tenure. They knew Saddam was continuing to build them but they couldn't do anything about it.
It wasn't clear that everyone was wrong until, as you said, "they sifted through the rubble".
It didn't occur to anyone that, as Nancy Pelosi said, Saddam was "making a mockery of the Weapons Inspection Process" when he had nothing to hide. No one thought he was that crazy. Everyone was wrong.
And what made you think Clinton had a policy? The weapons inspectors left after 98 and as his wife acknowledged Saddam was doing whatever he wanted after that point in time, and Pres Clinton couldn't do anything about it. And that includes two years of the Clinton administration where they just assumed he was continuing to build WMDs.
"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."
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), Oct 10, 2002