"One way or the other, we are determined to deny
Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction
and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom
line."
President Bill Clinton. Feb. 4, 1998.
"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use
force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously
diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass
destruction program."
President Bill Clinton.
Feb. 17, 1998.
"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."
Sen. John F. Kerry,
D-MA. Oct. 2002.
"[W]ithout question, we
need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous
dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... 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. So the threat of Saddam Hussein with
weapons of mass destruction is real."
Sen.
John F. Kerry, D-MA. Jan. 23, 2003.
"We have
known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking
and developing weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-MA. Sept. 27, 2002.
"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 ... 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."
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY. Oct 10, 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."
Sen. Bob Graham, D-FL. Dec. 8, 2002.
"Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens
there matters a great deal here. For the risks that
the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical
or biological weapons against us or our allies is
the greatest security threat we face."
Madeline
Albright, Clinton's Secretary of State. Feb 18,
1998.
"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his
money on building weapons of mass destruction and
palaces for his cronies."
Madeline Albright.
Nov. 10, 1999.
"He will use those weapons
of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since
1983."
Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security
Adviser. Feb,18, 1998.
"[W]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."
Letter to
President Clinton, signed by Senators Carl Levin,
Tom Daschle, John Kerry, and others. Oct. 9, 1998.
"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."
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-CA. Dec. 16, 1998.
"There is no doubt that ... 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 redefine 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."
Letter to President Bush, signed by Sen. Bob
Graham, D-FL, and others. Dec, 5, 2001.
"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 mandated of the
United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction
and the means of delivering them."
Sen. Carl
Levin, D-MI. Sept. 19, 2002.
"We know that
he has stored secret supplies of biological and
chemical weapons throughout his country."
Vice President Al Gore. Sept. 23, 2002.
"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."
Vice President Al Gore. Sept. 23,
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..."
Sen.
Robert Byrd, D-WV. Oct. 3, 2002.
"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 ... We also should remember we have always
underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development
of weapons of mass destruction."
Sen. Jay
Rockefeller, D-WV. Oct 10, 2002.
"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"
Rep. Henry Waxman,
D-CA. Oct. 10, 2002.
|