Clinton supporting war in Iraq?

[Alpha Wolf]

The past few weeks I've heard several references in the news to Bill Clinton stating that he believes Bush* did the right thing going into Iraq. Anyone know what's up with this? Is he really saying this? Does anyone have the direct quotes or know where they can be found?

say it isn't so Bill...

[Spazito]

1. No, he said very clearly that bush should have waited until the...

UN inspectors were finished. He repeated that during the 60 Minutes interview.

[salin]

10. and he said that now that we were there

essentially that is what we have to work with (eg can't change that we are there... too late to turn back the clock.) I think that this sentiment is read to be "support the war"... rather than "find a way to better deal with the situation we find ourselves in {unspoken: due to the fools currently sitting in the WH, NSC and top of the Pentagon}".

[leftofthedial]

2. that's part of what he said

he also thought the bushgang should have waited until the UN inspection process had run its course.

Which, of course, would have demonstrated that the rationale for war was a lie.

[GreenArrow]

18. of course, after the inspections had run their course

and no weapons had been found, the war would have proceeded as planned, because as Rummy said, "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence."

The war was unmitigated Bullshit when prosecuted unilaterally, as it was, and it STILL would have been unmitigated bullshit had it been prosecuted multilaterally.

[lovedems]

3. If ever in doubt, try this resource

Gigot's wishful thinking: that Clinton thinks "t was right for President Bush to go into Iraq"



On the June 20 broadcast of FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace, The Wall Street Journal's editorial page editor, Paul A. Gigot, argued that former President Bill Clinton "said this week that he thought it was right for President Bush to go into Iraq."

Not exactly. Before Gigot's appearance on the FOX Broadcasting Company, The Washington Post reported that excerpts from a Time magazine interview "leave Clinton's views on Iraq somewhat jumbled." However, as the Post also reported, Clinton made clear in an interview with CBS's Dan Rather -- portions of which were released in advance of its June 20 broadcast on 60 Minutes -- that, "In terms of the launching of the war, I believe we made an error in not allowing the United Nations to complete the inspections process." Clinton's comments to Rather were widely reported in anticipation of the broadcast and of the June 22 release of Clinton's memoir, My Life. Further, Time itself reported that Clinton said he "didn't agree with the timing of the attack."

more...

http://mediamatters.org/items/200406220001

[Alpha Wolf]

6. thanks

n\t

[meisje]

4. The antiwar ticket will not win the election

If the dems were to run antiwar, it would be a landslide in *'s favor.

[army12]

16. why would an anti war ticket lose

does that mean most of us are for this war?

[LynneSin]

5. I think Clinton is playing it smart by staying out of it

He's not the president anymore and usually it's common courtesy to not meddle in the business of what the new guy in the White House is doing.

[SixShooter]

7. You're right

Anybody grossly anti-war will get mopped up by BushCo

That's why its good we have Kerry and not Dean. No offense to the Deaniacs...I love Howard...but I dont think he could beat Bush...we all know BushCo would paint him as the raving far lefty he is not.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Clinton should just shut the hell up.

I voted for the jerk twice, but he is still a jerk. His kinda, maybe, yes/no, support/against the war is typical of him.

[Beaverhausen]

15. So Clinton gives a thoughtful, non black/white answer and he is a jerk?

I'd rather a man who takes the time to look at all sides of the issue before going to war than what * did. But maybe that's just me.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. All sides?

Bill Clinton's "looking at all sides" have always been about politics. His "all sides" included sabotaging efforts by the UN to stop the genocide in Rwanda, then actively backing Kabila when a counter genocide was carried out against the Hutus. His looking at all sides included backing "Welfare Reform", signing anti-environmental laws (Timber Salvage), NAFTA, and his continuing support for the occupation of Iraq.

He's a jerk.

[bandagainstbush]

9. Yet again...

It's just another case of the sensational media stirring the pot before they know if they grabbed the spoon.

[salin]

11. welcome to DU!

Very interesting phrase, will have to remember that one - very appropriate for the bushjr administration.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi bandagainstbush!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Jacobin]

12. He had eight years to make that decision

It is perfectly obvious that he would not have invaded Iraq, because he didn't do it when he had the opportunity.

Containment was working.

Now we are in an open ended occupation that is extremely expensive in money and lives and is doomed to fail.

[Aidoneus]

21. Yes, he was quite content with just starving & bombing them

Though in process of the so-called "containment" policy (genocidal sanctions and constant terror bombings) that Clinton's fan club celebrates, it paved the path for the invasion & occupation they now claim to oppose. I see the 2 processes as closely linked, and not in conflict.

[pocket]

13. well, he did sign that 'regime change' bill in 98

He can't credibly go back on it now, no matter what he really thinks.

[GreenArrow]

19. Iraq Liberation Act of 1998

getting rid of Saddam has been US policy since at least then, and would have happened eventually, regardless of the party in power.

[sandnsea]

20. Same view as Howard and everybody else

Hold Saddam accountable, get weapons inspectors back in Iraq. That view was the view of every single candidate and world leader in 2002. I just do not understand why the anti-war people refuse to acknowledge that. Most were willing to use military force if necessary, some had absolutely no plan at all to get inspectors back into Iraq; that's the key difference.

Almost all Democrats believed that Bush should not have invaded in March but let the inspectors finish and work with France & Germany diplomatically as that process continued. Including Kerry, including Clinton.

It's not complicated. It's not fuzzy. It's common sense. Exhaust all non-military avenues before war. I just don't understand why anti-war people want to help Rove by using this "muddled" rhetoric the right spins.

[Alpha Wolf]

22. But does anyone have the actual quotes?

I appreciate everyone's take on the matter-- but what I need for research purposes are the quotes themselves about Bush* doing the right thing going into Iraq. I especially want to investigate the context, which I'm sure the media is ignoring.

thanks.