Interesting Quotes By Key Democrats Prior to the War in Iraq
Loads of very sensible people claim that former President Bush lied in offering pre-war justification for the Iraq War. Yet this key document prepared by John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) sheds an interesting light on these claims. I have attached below some key quotes made by Democratic Senators that parallel all of the faulty statements made by the Bush administration--indicating that Bush's judgments were far more mainstream and commonly accepted than hindsight would have us believe:
Senator Hillary Clinton: 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 given aid, comfort and sanctuary to terrorists, including al-Qa’ida members. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV: There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years. He could have it earlier if he is able to obtain fissile materials on the outside market, which is possible—difficult, but possible. We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress that Saddam Hussein has been able to make in the development of weapons of mass destruction. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator Charles Schumer: Saddam Hussein is an evil man, a dictator who oppresses his people and flouts the mandate of the international community. While this behavior is reprehensible, it is Hussein’s vigorous pursuit of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, and his present and potential future support for terrorist acts and organizations, that make him a terrible danger to the people to the United States. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator Christopher Dodd: There is no question that Iraq possesses biological and chemical weapons and that he seeks to acquire additional weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. That is not in debate. (Congressional Record, October 9, 2002.)
Senator John Edwards: We know that he has chemical and biological weapons. He has already used them against his neighbors and his own people, and is trying to build more. We know that he is doing everything he can to build nuclear weapons, and we know that each day he gets closer to achieving that goal. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator John Edwards: Almost no one disagrees with these basic facts: that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a menace; that he has weapons of mass destruction and that he is doing everything in his power to get nuclear weapons; that he has supported terrorists; that he is a grave threat to the region, to vital allies like Israel, and to the United States; and that he is thwarting the will of the international community and undermining the United Nations credibility. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator John Kerry: According to the CIA’s report, all U.S. intelligence experts agree that Iraq is seeking nuclear weapons. There is little question that Saddam Hussein wants to develop nuclear weapons. The more difficult question to answer is when Iraq could actually achieve this goal. That depends on its ability to acquire weapons-grade fissile material. If Iraq could acquire this material from abroad, the CIA estimates that it could have a nuclear weapon within one year. (Congressional Record, October 9, 2002.)
Senator Dick Durbin: When you look at what Saddam Hussein has at his disposal, in terms of chemical biological, and perhaps even nuclear weapons, we cannot ignore the threat that he poses to the region and the fact that he has fomented terrorism throughout his reign. (December 21, 2001, Larry King Live.)
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV: Saddam’s existing biological and chemical weapons capabilities pose real threats to America today, tomorrow. 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 b ring these deadly weapons against U.S. forces and U.S. facilities in the Middle East. He could make these weapons available to many terrorist groups, third parties, which have contact with his government. Those groups, in turn, could bring those weapons into the United States and unleash a devastating attach against our citizens. I fear that greatly. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator John Kerry: In addition, Iraq is developing unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs, capable of delivering chemical and biological warfare agents, which could threaten Iraq’s neighbors as well as American forces in the Persian gulf. (Congressional Record, October 9, 2002.)
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV: 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. There has been some debate over how “imminent” a threat Iraq poses. I do believe Iraq poses an imminent threat. I also believe that after September 11, that question is increasingly outdated. It is in the nature of these weapons that he has and the way that 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? I do not think we can. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV: Is [Saddam Hussein] a greater threat that he was in 1991? He surely is. There’s different ways of launching scuds and all kinds of things that go faster, farther. There is no question on that… And if [our allies] are not there for us, does that mean in this debate, precedent based, historically-based, that we sort of sit and take it, or are we going to end up basically being unilateral anyway because we cannot have our children smallpoxed. (Congressional Record, September 25, 2002.)
Senator John Kerry: When I vote to give the President of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein, it is because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a great threat, and a grave threat to our security and that of our allies in the Persian Gulf region. (Congressional Record, October 9, 2002.)
Senator John Edwards: 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… 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… we can hardly ignore the terrorist threat, and the serious danger that Saddam would allow his arsenal to be used in aid of terror. (Congressional Record, September 12, 2002.)
Senator Charles Schumer: When I consider that Hussein could either us or give to terrorists weapons of mass destruction biological, chemical or nuclear and that he might just be mad enough to do it I find, after careful research, the answer to my question: we cannot afford to leave him alone over the next five or even three years. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Vice President Al Gore: If you allow someone like Saddam Hussein to get nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, chemical weapons, biological weapons, how many people is he going to kill with such weapons? He’s already demonstrated a willingness to use the other weapons of mass destruction against his neighbors. This man has no compunction about killing lots and lots of people. So this is a way to save lives and to save the stability and peace of a region of the world that is important to the peace and security of the entire world. (Address to the Nation, December 16, 1998.)
Senator Joe Biden: Our strategic objective is to contain Saddam Hussein and curtail his ability to produce the most deadly weapons known to mankind—weapons that he has unleashed with chilling alacrity against his own people. Left unchecked Saddam Hussein would in short order be in a position to threaten and blackmail our regional allies, our troops, and, indeed, our nation. (Congressional Record, February 12, 1998.)
Senator Hillary Clinton: 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 given aid, comfort and sanctuary to terrorists, including al-Qa’ida members. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV: There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years. He could have it earlier if he is able to obtain fissile materials on the outside market, which is possible—difficult, but possible. We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress that Saddam Hussein has been able to make in the development of weapons of mass destruction. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator Charles Schumer: Saddam Hussein is an evil man, a dictator who oppresses his people and flouts the mandate of the international community. While this behavior is reprehensible, it is Hussein’s vigorous pursuit of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, and his present and potential future support for terrorist acts and organizations, that make him a terrible danger to the people to the United States. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator Christopher Dodd: There is no question that Iraq possesses biological and chemical weapons and that he seeks to acquire additional weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. That is not in debate. (Congressional Record, October 9, 2002.)
Senator John Edwards: We know that he has chemical and biological weapons. He has already used them against his neighbors and his own people, and is trying to build more. We know that he is doing everything he can to build nuclear weapons, and we know that each day he gets closer to achieving that goal. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator John Edwards: Almost no one disagrees with these basic facts: that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a menace; that he has weapons of mass destruction and that he is doing everything in his power to get nuclear weapons; that he has supported terrorists; that he is a grave threat to the region, to vital allies like Israel, and to the United States; and that he is thwarting the will of the international community and undermining the United Nations credibility. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator John Kerry: According to the CIA’s report, all U.S. intelligence experts agree that Iraq is seeking nuclear weapons. There is little question that Saddam Hussein wants to develop nuclear weapons. The more difficult question to answer is when Iraq could actually achieve this goal. That depends on its ability to acquire weapons-grade fissile material. If Iraq could acquire this material from abroad, the CIA estimates that it could have a nuclear weapon within one year. (Congressional Record, October 9, 2002.)
Senator Dick Durbin: When you look at what Saddam Hussein has at his disposal, in terms of chemical biological, and perhaps even nuclear weapons, we cannot ignore the threat that he poses to the region and the fact that he has fomented terrorism throughout his reign. (December 21, 2001, Larry King Live.)
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV: Saddam’s existing biological and chemical weapons capabilities pose real threats to America today, tomorrow. 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 b ring these deadly weapons against U.S. forces and U.S. facilities in the Middle East. He could make these weapons available to many terrorist groups, third parties, which have contact with his government. Those groups, in turn, could bring those weapons into the United States and unleash a devastating attach against our citizens. I fear that greatly. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator John Kerry: In addition, Iraq is developing unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs, capable of delivering chemical and biological warfare agents, which could threaten Iraq’s neighbors as well as American forces in the Persian gulf. (Congressional Record, October 9, 2002.)
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV: 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. There has been some debate over how “imminent” a threat Iraq poses. I do believe Iraq poses an imminent threat. I also believe that after September 11, that question is increasingly outdated. It is in the nature of these weapons that he has and the way that 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? I do not think we can. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV: Is [Saddam Hussein] a greater threat that he was in 1991? He surely is. There’s different ways of launching scuds and all kinds of things that go faster, farther. There is no question on that… And if [our allies] are not there for us, does that mean in this debate, precedent based, historically-based, that we sort of sit and take it, or are we going to end up basically being unilateral anyway because we cannot have our children smallpoxed. (Congressional Record, September 25, 2002.)
Senator John Kerry: When I vote to give the President of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein, it is because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a great threat, and a grave threat to our security and that of our allies in the Persian Gulf region. (Congressional Record, October 9, 2002.)
Senator John Edwards: 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… 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… we can hardly ignore the terrorist threat, and the serious danger that Saddam would allow his arsenal to be used in aid of terror. (Congressional Record, September 12, 2002.)
Senator Charles Schumer: When I consider that Hussein could either us or give to terrorists weapons of mass destruction biological, chemical or nuclear and that he might just be mad enough to do it I find, after careful research, the answer to my question: we cannot afford to leave him alone over the next five or even three years. (Congressional Record, October 10, 2002.)
Vice President Al Gore: If you allow someone like Saddam Hussein to get nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, chemical weapons, biological weapons, how many people is he going to kill with such weapons? He’s already demonstrated a willingness to use the other weapons of mass destruction against his neighbors. This man has no compunction about killing lots and lots of people. So this is a way to save lives and to save the stability and peace of a region of the world that is important to the peace and security of the entire world. (Address to the Nation, December 16, 1998.)
Senator Joe Biden: Our strategic objective is to contain Saddam Hussein and curtail his ability to produce the most deadly weapons known to mankind—weapons that he has unleashed with chilling alacrity against his own people. Left unchecked Saddam Hussein would in short order be in a position to threaten and blackmail our regional allies, our troops, and, indeed, our nation. (Congressional Record, February 12, 1998.)
posted by Thăng-Long at 5:15 PM
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