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Why Clinton didn't send troops to Iraq...?

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imax2268 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 08:19 PM
Original message
Why Clinton didn't send troops to Iraq...?
I have heard that he didn't get support from Congress...is that true...?

I know it had something to do with him not having support to do so...the reason why I ask is because I keep getting pelted with copy and pasted quotes by some rethugs on another site saying that Clinton dropped the ball on Iraq...

anyone have any info/links as to why Clinton didn't send troops into Iraq...???
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wuushew Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 08:23 PM
Response to Original message
1. Because it would have been blatanty illegal
where are you hearing these things?
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krkaufman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 08:23 PM
Original message
Ummm... because he didn't need to?
Countries in the region didn't support it, nor was there international support.

Containment was working. There wasn't a need. And, oh yeah, he wasn't a threat. (Regardless of what Spinmaster Kay says.)
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lovedems Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 08:23 PM
Response to Original message
2. Because their idea of regime change didn't mean sending troops over
Edited on Thu Jan-29-04 08:25 PM by lovedems
they wanted to let the sanctions work and have the Iraqi people revolt on their own. Then the US would go in and assist. That is the way you establish a democracy, from the bottom up...not the top down.

Now, hearing what Kay has been saying, the sanctions did work. Iraq was corrupt, 60% of the oil for food was going to palace construction and it was "every man for himself".

Pre-emptive war was not part of the plan, sanctions were.

Edit: No matter how much you fear the dictator, suffering will always overcome the fear and you will revolt.
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krkaufman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 08:32 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. Exactly
Kay, in fact, explicitly said that Clinton's air strikes in 1998(?) were also successful. But, for some reason, Kay seems to be puffing up Saddam as hypothetical threat. Seriously trying to spin it for Bush.

And, given that INTERNATIONAL, GLOBAL terrorism is our true foe, another possibility for regime change in Iraq could have been *improving* diplomatic relations with Iraq. Offer a clean slate -- based on a multitude of steps to which Saddam would have to comply. (ummm... like we're doing with Libya.)



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mistertrickster Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 08:33 PM
Response to Original message
4. Short memories--these Freep types were the same ones screaming
"wag the dog" when Clinton bombed a WMD factory in the Sudan. If he had tried to invade Iraq, they would have gone bonkers (well, even more bonkers than they are normally).

The re-writing of history those people do is just appalling . . .
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imax2268 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 08:33 PM
Response to Original message
5. Ok...here's the post...
I was referring to the Kay Report and the OSP and this is what I got in return...nothing about the report and nothing about the OSP...

----------------------------------------------------------------------

You will love this one Max, It is from Right Wing News:


If The Bush Administration Lied About WMD, So Did These People -- Version 3.0
by John Hawkins
Since we haven't found WMD in Iraq, a lot of the anti-war/anti-Bush crowd is saying that the Bush administration lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Well, if they're going to claim that the Bush administration lied, then there sure are a lot of other people, including quite a few prominent Democrats, who have told the same "lies" since the inspectors pulled out of Iraq in 1998. Here are just a few examples that prove that the Bush administration didn't lie about weapons of mass destruction...

"e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." -- From a letter signed by Joe Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara A. Milulski, Tom Daschle, & John Kerry among others on October 9, 1998

"This December will mark three years since United Nations inspectors last visited Iraq. There is no doubt that since that time, Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to refine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer- range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies." -- From a December 6, 2001 letter signed by Bob Graham, Joe Lieberman, Harold Ford, & Tom Lantos among others

"Whereas Iraq has consistently breached its cease-fire agreement between Iraq and the United States, entered into on March 3, 1991, by failing to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction program, and refusing to permit monitoring and verification by United Nations inspections; Whereas Iraq has developed weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological capabilities, and has made positive progress toward developing nuclear weapons capabilities" -- From a joint resolution submitted by Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter on July 18, 2002

"Saddam's goal ... is to achieve the lifting of U.N. sanctions while retaining and enhancing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs. We cannot, we must not and we will not let him succeed." -- Madeline Albright, 1998

"(Saddam) will rebuild his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and some day, some way, I am certain he will use that arsenal again, as he has 10 times since 1983" -- National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Feb 18, 1998

"Iraq made commitments after the Gulf War to completely dismantle all weapons of mass destruction, and unfortunately, Iraq has not lived up to its agreement." -- Barbara Boxer, November 8, 2002

"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retained some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capability. Intelligence reports also indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons, but has not yet achieved nuclear capability." -- Robert Byrd, October 2002

"There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat... Yes, he has chemical and biological weapons. He's had those for a long time. But the United States right now is on a very much different defensive posture than we were before September 11th of 2001... He is, as far as we know, actively pursuing nuclear capabilities, though he doesn't have nuclear warheads yet. If he were to acquire nuclear weapons, I think our friends in the region would face greatly increased risks as would we." -- Wesley Clark on September 26, 2002

"What is at stake is how to answer the potential threat Iraq represents with the risk of proliferation of WMD. Baghdad's regime did use such weapons in the past. Today, a number of evidences may lead to think that, over the past four years, in the absence of international inspectors, this country has continued armament programs." -- Jacques Chirac, October 16, 2002

"The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow." -- Bill Clinton in 1998

"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, though there is apparently no evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11, 2001. 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. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well affects American security." -- Hillary Clinton, October 10, 2002

"I am absolutely convinced that there are weapons...I saw evidence back in 1998 when we would see the inspectors being barred from gaining entry into a warehouse for three hours with trucks rolling up and then moving those trucks out." -- Clinton's Secretary of Defense William Cohen in April of 2003

"Iraq is not the only nation in the world to possess weapons of mass destruction, but it is the only nation with a leader who has used them against his own people." -- Tom Daschle in 1998

"Saddam Hussein's regime represents a grave threat to America and our allies, including our vital ally, Israel. For more than two decades, Saddam Hussein has sought weapons of mass destruction through every available means. 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." -- John Edwards, Oct 10, 2002

"The debate over Iraq is not about politics. It is about national security. It should be clear that our national security requires Congress to send a clear message to Iraq and the world: America is united in its determination to eliminate forever the threat of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction." -- John Edwards, Oct 10, 2002

"I share the administration's goals in dealing with Iraq and its weapons of mass destruction." -- Dick Gephardt in September of 2002

"Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access to weapons of mass destruction. Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to completely deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." -- Al Gore, 2002

"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction." -- Bob Graham, December 2002

"Saddam Hussein is not the only deranged dictator who is willing to deprive his people in order to acquire weapons of mass destruction." -- Jim Jeffords, October 8, 2002

"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." -- Ted Kennedy, September 27, 2002

"There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein's regime is a serious danger, that he is a tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal weapons of mass destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed." -- Ted Kennedy, Sept 27, 2002

"I will be voting to give the president of the United States the authority to use force - if necessary - to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." -- John F. Kerry, Oct 2002

"The threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but as I said, it is not new. It has been with us since the end of that war, and particularly in the last 4 years we know after Operation Desert Fox failed to force him to reaccept them, that he has continued to build those weapons. He has had a free hand for 4 years to reconstitute these weapons, allowing the world, during the interval, to lose the focus we had on weapons of mass destruction and the issue of proliferation." -- John Kerry, October 9, 2002

"(W)e need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime. We all know the litany of his offenses. He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation. ...And now he is miscalculating America’s response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction. That is why the world, through the United Nations Security Council, has spoken with one voice, demanding that Iraq disclose its weapons programs and disarm. So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but it is not new. It has been with us since the end of the Persian Gulf War." -- John Kerry, Jan 23, 2003

"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandates of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them." -- Carl Levin, Sept 19, 2002

"Every day Saddam remains in power with chemical weapons, biological weapons, and the development of nuclear weapons is a day of danger for the United States." -- Joe Lieberman, August, 2002

"Over the years, Iraq has worked to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. During 1991 - 1994, despite Iraq's denials, U.N. inspectors discovered and dismantled a large network of nuclear facilities that Iraq was using to develop nuclear weapons. Various reports indicate that Iraq is still actively pursuing nuclear weapons capability. There is no reason to think otherwise. Beyond nuclear weapons, Iraq has actively pursued biological and chemical weapons.U.N. inspectors have said that Iraq's claims about biological weapons is neither credible nor verifiable. In 1986, Iraq used chemical weapons against Iran, and later, against its own Kurdish population. While weapons inspections have been successful in the past, there have been no inspections since the end of 1998. There can be no doubt that Iraq has continued to pursue its goal of obtaining weapons of mass destruction." -- Patty Murray, October 9, 2002

"As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process." -- Nancy Pelosi, December 16, 1998

"Even today, Iraq is not nearly disarmed. Based on highly credible intelligence, UNSCOM suspects that Iraq still has biological agents like anthrax, botulinum toxin, and clostridium perfringens in sufficient quantity to fill several dozen bombs and ballistic missile warheads, as well as the means to continue manufacturing these deadly agents. Iraq probably retains several tons of the highly toxic VX substance, as well as sarin nerve gas and mustard gas. This agent is stored in artillery shells, bombs, and ballistic missile warheads. And Iraq retains significant dual-use industrial infrastructure that can be used to rapidly reconstitute large-scale chemical weapons production." -- Ex-Un Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter in 1998

"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. And that may happen sooner if he can obtain access to enriched uranium from foreign sources -- something that is not that difficult in the current world. We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction." -- John Rockefeller, Oct 10, 2002

"Saddam’s existing biological and chemical weapons capabilities pose a very real threat to America, now. 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 bring these deadly weapons against U.S. forces and U.S. facilities in the Middle East." -- John Rockefeller, Oct 10, 2002

"Whether one agrees or disagrees with the Administration’s policy towards Iraq, I don’t think there can be any question about Saddam’s conduct. He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do. He lies and cheats; he snubs the mandate and authority of international weapons inspectors; and he games the system to keep buying time against enforcement of the just and legitimate demands of the United Nations, the Security Council, the United States and our allies. Those are simply the facts." -- Henry Waxman, Oct 10, 2002
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Now to shut them up about this...I have always stated that Clinton didn't have support to send in troops...
is that correct...because everytime I get into a tizzy with some rethugs about the iraq issue and WMD and now the David Kay report...this is the kind of shit that I get back...

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Maeve Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 08:37 PM
Response to Original message
6. Please check Urban Legends first with those things
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imax2268 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 08:42 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. Thanks...I wish I could...
but DOD filters will not let me access snopes here on base...
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lcordero Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 09:15 PM
Response to Original message
8. this is one of the reasons why:
Edited on Thu Jan-29-04 09:15 PM by lcordero
http://www.cincypost.com/news/1998/iraq021998.html

belligerent pacifism anybody?:toast:
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imax2268 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 09:21 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Thanks...
good reading...
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Sapphocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Jan-29-04 10:09 PM
Response to Original message
10. Why even bother defending Clinton? How about Bush Sr.?
Edited on Thu Jan-29-04 10:44 PM by Sapphocrat
When all else fails, throw this in their freeper faces:
(If we had sent US military forces to liberate Iraq after the liberation of Kuwait in 1991) the US could conceivably still be an occupying power in a bitterly hostile land. Trying to eliminate Hussein, extending the ground war into an occupation of Iraq, would have violated our guideline about not changing objectives in midstream, engaging in "mission creep", and would have incurred incalculable human and political costs.

(Removing Saddam) was well beyond the bounds of the UN resolution guiding us. (If the US took this action) we would be committing ourselves -- alone -- to removing one regime and installing another, and if the Iraqis themselves didn't take matters into their own hands, we would be facing an indefinite occupation of a hostile state and some dubious "nation building"...

We believed the US should not go it alone. Mounting an effective military counter to Iraq's invasion required the backing and bases of Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. (If we had invaded Iraq) the coalition would instantly have collapsed, the Arabs deserting it in anger and other allies pulling out of it as well. There was no viable "exit strategy" we could see, violating another of our principles.

(Saddam's fate) was up to the Iraqi people. For very practical reasons, there was never a promise to aid an uprising.

President George H.W. Bush (w/Brent Scowcroft)
A World Transformed (1998)

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