Good post. But it certainly wasn't just Republicans who lied, or
who backed this war. Check out these quotes from the leading
Democrats to refresh your memory. (Via Sam Smith, at Undernews:
http://prorev.com/2008/06/recovered-history.html)
"We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons
of mass destruction program." -President Bill Clinton, February 17,
1998.
"[Saddam Hussein ] has chosen to spend his money on building
weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies." -
Madeleine Albright, secretary of state in the Clinton
administration, November 10, 1999.
"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." -Senator
Carl Levin of Michigan, September 19, 2002.
"We know that [Saddam Hussein ] has stored secret supplies of
biological and chemical weapons throughout his country. . . Iraq's
search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to
deter, and we should assume that it will continue for as long as
Saddam is in power." - Al Gore, a former vice president of the
United States who back then could sound remarkably like the current
one, on September 23, 2002. Clearly both veeps were in this
together.
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and
developing weapons of mass destruction." - Senator Ted Kennedy,
September 27, 2002.
"The last UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We
are confident that Saddam Hussein retains 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
capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking
nuclear weapons." - Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia
"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-Qaida members.. . . 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." - Senator Hillary Rodham
Clinton, now of New York, on October 10, 2002.
The first step to dealing with this warmongering is to get beyond
this idea that it is just the Repubicans who are doing it. Claiming
so at this point is basically dishonest. The Democrats are just as
responsible and have been there every step of the way. Including,
in fact especially, so-called progressive heroes such as
Kennedy and Gore. Gore has taken in well over $100 million from
corporate interests since 9/11.
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