Dean had his facts wrong on Gulf war '91 today

[NewYorkerfromMass]

He said Kerry "voted not to go to war when the oil wells were on fire and the (Iraqi) troops were in Kuwait."

Sorry Howard but no oil wells were on fire until Operation Desert Storm commenced. When the congressional vote was taken Kuwait was invaded and occupied and the GOP was planting stories about babies being ripped from incubators to fire up the hatred of Hussein- but no oil wells were on fire.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20040125_1570.html

[KC21304]

1. And don't forget all those Iraqi troops amassed on the Saudi border.

They were the figment of someone's imagination.

[no name no slogan]

2. Not to mention April Glaspie's "Green Light" to Saddam

Her comments that the US wouldn't intervine in a "squabble" between regional powers in the Middle East was the Red Carpet Saddam needed to invade Kuwait.

But never mind the fact that Kuwait had been violating international law by "slant-drilling" under Iraqi territory and stealing its oil. As a matter of fact, Kuwait had been reprimanded by the UN when Iraq brought up this issue in the General Assembly.

But again, I digress....

[sandnsea]

3. Or babies pulled from incubators

But suddenly everyone on DU is a GW1 supporter even though all this stuff was evidence of Bush's bullshit just a few months ago.

[Nazgul35]

4. funny...when we had clearer signs of

bullshit...Kerry suddenly lost his ability to see straight....

Or could it be that the GWR came after the election and the IWR came before....

What's that called again...oh yeah...political opportunism....

[blm]

8. no...the difference was the enforcement of UN res. 1441

which Saddam was in violation of. Also since 1991 the Iraqgate investigations revealed how much $$$$$, chemical and biological weapons Poppy supplied to Saddam throughout the 80s.

[sandnsea]

14. opportunism

That's when people who would otherwise be against a war are suddenly for it. A war where there was no knowledge of WMD, where further diplomacy could have led to a better outcome.

Then turn around and exploit a vote instead of laying the blame at the feet of the person who is always responsible for the deployment of troops, the President. The Commander in Chief. George Bush.

The only opportunist in this election has been Howard Dean.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. LOL!!! Did "someone" say that?

I shudder.....

[KC21304]

22. Sure, Kuwait said that Saddam had troops amassed at the Saudi Border.

They were pulling all kinds of tricks to get us to start a war.
They even claimed to have pictures, but I believe they proved to be phony. I think the Papa Bush asassination attempt was a phony deal too and I would like to get CLinton to admit it one day.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. kick

[Dark Star]

7. Dean seems to have a lot of

problems with little details like this :mad: . He really would be the hardest democrat for me to vote for if nominated, but I don't think that's going to happen.

[LuminousX]

9. Kinda like Clark saying the Taliban were in Iraq?

little details...


All Dean's problem in that statement is a bit of convulsion of history. Kuwait had been invaded. That is all that one needs to know.

[cindyw]

10. Kick for the Real Deal

:kick:

[killbotfactory]

11. R.I.P. Dean Campaign

He totally lost the '91 Gulf War opponents vote.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

12. I think he lost the accuracy in reporting vote. eom

[Snivi Yllom]

13. oh please

he's far from over.

[blm]

15. killbot's a Dean campaign loyalist....he's only kidding.

.

[isbister]

16. Wow, Dean got his "facts" wrong when attacking Kerry

That's only happened.... since they've been in the race together.

[Poseidon]

17. Howard is DEAD wrong on this

I know, I was there, and he is dead wrong. I was part of ODS in 1991 and the oil well fires had not started yet. Force was authorized on January 12, 1991, if I remember correctly, and here is the link to the vote:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=102&session=1&vote=00002

Dean should get his facts straight before arguing about this.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

18. Thank You

Both for your service and providing support here.
I thought it was pretty historically clear that the well fires were both retalitation and sabotage by the retreating Iraqis.
Dean's statement makes it sound like Kerry was irresponsible and heedless of environmental concerns. LOL Dean must at last see how bad he looks on the environment compared to our greenest candidate.

[Poseidon]

20. No problem

:hi:

[KC21304]

21. Thanks for the memories. Interesting to see.

I forgot how many Dems voted against. I'm surprised at Nunn. Didn't remember that.

[Cocoa]

19. Dean rattling his sword

proving he can be a hawk too.

That worries me a little with Dean. Once in office, he could feel the need to overcompensate for his percieved weakness in foreign policy. I've read people attribute JFK's Vietnam policy to this kind of dynamic.

I have no idea if this will happen, it's not a serious issue to me, but his praise of the Gulf War brings that danger to mind.

[WiseMen]

23. Some think it is ok to Kill for Oil, but not to force inspections. Ironic?

[Forkboy]

24. No,ironic would be

speaking out eloquently against a vote...then voting yes on said vote.

[bigtree]

25. HOWARD DEAN: ...

". . . two extra words uttered by former Vermont governor Howard Dean during the Children's Defense Fund forum. Reiterating his opposition to the war, Dean said:

"We need to contain Saddam, we should have contained Saddam. We got rid of him. I suppose that's a good thing."


http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-04-10-hype_x.htm

[Hoppin_Mad]

26. Yup - He misspoke - All the candidates do on occasion -nt-