ABC News Survey: 33 Senators Say They Were Wrong To Vote For War In Iraq

[RedEarth]

ABC News Survey: 33 Senators Say They Were Wrong To Vote For War In Iraq
In Oct. 2003, 77 senators voted to give President Bush authorization to go to war in Iraq. Just 23 senators voted against it.

But according to a new ABC News survey, 33 out of the original 77 senators “indicated they would vote differently knowing then what they know now.” Five senators — including three Republicans — said that in retrospect, the intelligence was so wrong that the matter should never have even been brought to a vote. These results would mean that a vote to authorize war in Iraq today would be 43-57, and the resolution would fail. (Full list of senators here.)

ABC News senior political correspondent Jake Tapper presented the survey results today on Good Morning America, noting that the survey of the senators was “a stunning repudiation of their own votes, the prewar intelligence, and the war itself.”

Transcript:

DIANE SAWYER: An ABC News survey of the senators who voted to go to war suggests the President may have a tough time selling his plan on Capitol Hill. ABC News senior political correspondent Jake Tapper in Washington has the results for us this morning. Jake?

JAKE TAPPER: Good morning, Diane. ABC News surveyed all 77 senators who voted to authorize foce in Iraq and asked them a simple question — knowing what you know now, would you vote the same way? The shocking results. The Senate that so overwhelmly voted to give the President more powers, Democrats and Republicans, would not do so today.



VOICE: Mr. Harkin — aye.

TAPPER: In October 2002, the vote to go to war in Iraq was overwhelming. 77 for, 23 against.

VOICE: The joint resolution is passed.



TAPPER: But an ABC News survey of those senators shows that knowing then what they know now, only 43 would vote the same way, and 57 would likely vote against the war. The resolution would not pass. Thirty-three U.S. senators who voted to go to war indicated to ABC News that they would vote differently knowing then what they knew now. Or that pre-war intelligence alleging Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction was so wrong, the Senate would have never even voted on the war. While overwhelmingly the regrets came from Democrats, a significant number came from Republicans.



TAPPER: Overall our survey, Diane, indicates — a survey of the senators who voted to go to war — a stunning repudiation of their own votes, the prewar intelligence, and the war itself.

SAWYER: Well Jake, that’s it. More than 40 senators saying they would take back a vote. I have never heard of this


.......watch it here...........

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/05/senators-wrong-iraq/

[tblue]

1. "Out out, damn spot!" Hard to wash off the blood, eh, ya cowards? War is hell. Don't do it.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Well I have a different point of view

Dear Senators, it wasn't because the intelligence was wrong, its because the republican motherfucker in the white house lied to you and he lied intentionally and you know it. Didn't seem like such a bad ideas four years ago, but you republican motherfuckers have a track record of fucking things up. Badly.

[neoblues]

4. You see through their attempt to "frame" their regret...

What, I wonder, would it take for them to just be honest and forthright, even once in a while?

[Wickerman]

3. The only good that might come out of this is that in the future

it SHOULD be harder than hell to make the case for any war powers. Should is, of course, the damning word in that prediction... :eyes:

[OHdem10]

5. My recollection of their vote is not so kind

I remember some cockamaime idea that they voted with the President
because they thought it made them look strong. There were an awful
lot of "Me TOO" to everything Bush said. How they reached the conclusion
that "Me Too" and Strength equate, I will never know.

I hope they have grown up and realize that following the crowd
does not always pay. You can get led down the wrong path very
easily.

The Next time a serious problem faces the country will they dig
in and study the issue for themselves. There were many smart
and not so smart people who saw what was going on from the start.

Will they be willing to stand up against the Surge and Accelaration
or if they believe in it--come on TV and explain why it is a good
idea. The hiding under the desks pre war is not too admirable in
my memory.