Ford: Bush made 'big mistake' on Iraq justifications (1 Viewer)

[KidRocks]

Rest in peace President Ford, you were a good, decent and honest man.









Ford: Bush made 'big mistake' on Iraq justifications - CNN.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In an interview never before published, former President Gerald Ford said President Bush and his chief advisers "made a big mistake" with their justifications for the Iraq war.

Ford made the comments in a four-hour interview in 2004 with Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward.

Woodward is famous for being part of the writing duo who exposed the Watergate scandal, which led to Ford becoming president.

The interview was conducted at Ford's home in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

"I don't think, if I had been president -- on the basis of the facts as I saw them publicly -- I don't think I would have ordered the Iraqi war," Ford said in a part of the interview broadcast on CNN's "Larry King Live" Wednesday.

"I would have maximized our efforts through sanctions, through restrictions, whatever, to find another answer," the former president said.

Ford died Tuesday, at age 93, at his home in Rancho Mirage, California. An official cause of death has not been released. (Read the full story)

His body will lie in state in California and Washington before interment January 3. (Watch announcement of Ford's funeral )

Ford replaced former President Richard Nixon, who resigned in 1974 during a scandal surrounding the burglary of Democratic Party offices at the Watergate Hotel in Washington. (Watch how Ford's legacy will remain strong )

Ford was regarded as a man with a quiet style who was not quick to criticize, Woodward and others who worked with him said on "Larry King." (Watch President Bush praise Ford )

Ford requested that Woodward not publish the interview until Woodward had written a planned book about Ford or until the former president died...

 

[Navy Seal Patriot]

I'm very curious to see on how Rush and Fox will water this down.

 

[DeeJayH]

quite easily, just read the article
a MISTAKE
not a lie
not a manipulation of intelligence
or whatever other garbage line the left has used to attack dubya over Iraq

 

[Navy Seal Patriot]

whatever other garbage line the left has used to attack dubya over Iraq

LOL. I bet Rush will use that line.

 

[Kandahar]

quite easily, just read the article
a MISTAKE
not a lie
not a manipulation of intelligence
or whatever other garbage line the left has used to attack dubya over Iraq

:rofl
The fact that you seem PROUD of the fact that it was merely a "mistake" as opposed to a "lie" or "manipulation" shows just how badly Bush and his supporters have ****ed up. :roll:

 

[niftydrifty]

Ford also once said (in 1975) that Reagan would be a 'disaster' as POTUS. how right he was.

 

[RightinNYC]

Before you jump to conclusions, you should realize that Ford's judgment of Iraq was a bit more nuanced than you assume:

New York Daily News - Home - Last lunch with a legend

He'd been visited by President Bush three weeks earlier and said he'd told Bush he supported the war in Iraq but that the 43rd President had erred by staking the invasion on weapons of mass destruction.

"Saddam Hussein was an evil person and there was justification to get rid of him," he observed, "but we shouldn't have put the basis on weapons of mass destruction. That was a bad mistake. Where does [Bush] get his advice?"

Ford isn't saying that the war itself was unjustified, as you are mistakenly claiming. He's saying that the WMD justification that was laid out was a mistake, but that there was in fact a justification based on other factors.

 

[jujuman13]

RightatNYU is correct, Ford did not state that the war was a mistake.
But I rather like what was written under another post.
quote
("I think for us to get American military personnel involved in a civil war inside Iraq would literally be a quagmire. Once we got to Baghdad, what would we do? Who would we put in power? What kind of government would we have? ... I think it makes no sense at all." —Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, April 7, 1991)

I had always assumed that Cheney was gung ho in favour of the war under any pretext, so either he changed his mind (let us be honest he is after all a Politician and ALL Politicians are Liars) or he thought he foresaw the US as being able to control Iraqi Oil and / or be in a position to rebuild Iraqi Oil installations and pipelines.

 

[26 X World Champs]

quite easily, just read the article
a MISTAKE
not a lie
not a manipulation of intelligence
or whatever other garbage line the left has used to attack dubya over Iraq

A mistake that has led to just about 3000 US soldiers being killed and more than 100,000 Iraqis and you shrug your shoulders and call it a "mistake"?

Bush has cemented his place in US history...sadly as the worst President in modern history and very possibly the worst President ever.

 

[26 X World Champs]

Before you jump to conclusions, you should realize that Ford's judgment of Iraq was a bit more nuanced than you assume:

New York Daily News - Home - Last lunch with a legend


Ford isn't saying that the war itself was unjustified, as you are mistakenly claiming. He's saying that the WMD justification that was laid out was a mistake, but that there was in fact a justification based on other factors.

Nice try at spinning but unless you're name is Navy Pride or Current Affairs you're not going to convince too many others.

The fact is that Ford said the war was NOT justified. He said he would not have gone to war over the supposed WMDs...which is exactly what Bush used as his reason for invading Iraq.

Spin it all you want if it makes you feel better but your not convincing anyone other than the sorts of Forum members who don't need convincing since they can never recognize right or wrong...only red or blue...

 

[CurrentAffairs]

Bush has cemented his place in US history...sadly as the worst President in modern history and very possibly the worst President ever.

You don't need to convince us that this is your opinion. We understand your venom. The rest of us understand that a president's "place in history" isn't sealed until many years later. Unless you have the same Magic 8 Ball as Hatuey...???

 

[DeeJayH]

A mistake that has led to just about 3000 US soldiers being killed and more than 100,000 Iraqis and you shrug your shoulders and call it a "mistake"?

Bush has cemented his place in US history...sadly as the worst President in modern history and very possibly the worst President ever.

thats what Ford said tard
get a clue

 

[RightinNYC]

Nice try at spinning but unless you're name is Navy Pride or Current Affairs you're not going to convince too many others.

The fact is that Ford said the war was NOT justified. He said he would not have gone to war over the supposed WMDs...which is exactly what Bush used as his reason for invading Iraq.

Spin it all you want if it makes you feel better but your not convincing anyone other than the sorts of Forum members who don't need convincing since they can never recognize right or wrong...only red or blue...

Did you even bother to read what was posted? Ford's EXACT words:

"Saddam Hussein was an evil person and there was justification to get rid of him," he observed, "but we shouldn't have put the basis on weapons of mass destruction. That was a bad mistake.

That, combined with the fact that he stated that he supported the war would lead any reasonable person to infer that Ford believed that actions to remove Saddam were in fact justified, but that WMD's were not the best justification. I agreed then, and I agree now. There were plenty of reasons to go after Saddam that warranted action aside from WMD's, so placing so much of our emphasis on an element that had as yet been unproved was a mistake in presentation, but had no effect on whether the actual action was justified.

How you can claim that is "spin" is beyond me.

 

[tryreading]

Did you even bother to read what was posted? Ford's EXACT words:


That, combined with the fact that he stated that he supported the war would lead any reasonable person to infer that Ford believed that actions to remove Saddam were in fact justified, but that WMD's were not the best justification. I agreed then, and I agree now. There were plenty of reasons to go after Saddam that warranted action aside from WMD's, so placing so much of our emphasis on an element that had as yet been unproved was a mistake in presentation, but had no effect on whether the actual action was justified.

How you can claim that is "spin" is beyond me.

Ford did say there was justification in getting rid of Hussein, but said he would have done it this way:

"I would have maximized our efforts through sanctions, through restrictions, whatever, to find another answer."

And he ridiculed the method:

"I just don't think we should go hellfire damnation around the globe freeing people, unless it is directly related to our own national security," Ford told Woodward.

 

[RightinNYC]

Ford did say there was justification in getting rid of Hussein, but said he would have done it this way:

"I would have maximized our efforts through sanctions, through restrictions, whatever, to find another answer."

And he ridiculed the method:

"I just don't think we should go hellfire damnation around the globe freeing people, unless it is directly related to our own national security," Ford told Woodward.

If you compare both the Woodward and the Daily News quotes, I think its pretty clear that Ford comes damn close to contradicting himself. You can't logicaly say that there was a justification for activity X, you support activity X, but that you would have found a way to find another alternative to activity X and have that be a clear endorsement of either position. Either way, it's a very muddled answer that left him with a lot of outs.

 

[tryreading]

If you compare both the Woodward and the Daily News quotes, I think its pretty clear that Ford comes damn close to contradicting himself. You can't logicaly say that there was a justification for activity X, you support activity X, but that you would have found a way to find another alternative to activity X and have that be a clear endorsement of either position. Either way, it's a very muddled answer that left him with a lot of outs.

It is muddled. But so far, not having read the interview, I am taking President Ford's meaning to be he would not have waged the war and he would not be in the business of going around the globe freeing people, and, though there may have been justification for Saddam's removal, Ford would not have gone to war to remove him, and neither should Bush have done so, and Bush didn't use the right basis for his reasoning to go to war anyway.

 

[doughgirl]

It does not surprise me that Ford said this. He really leaned LEFT. I really think he was a Democrat.

He was close friends with Jimmy Carter and he was pro-abortion..... Can't get more LEFT than that.

 

[tryreading]

It does not surprise me that Ford said this. He really leaned LEFT.

Most of the country feels this way.

 

[26 X World Champs]

It does not surprise me that Ford said this. He really leaned LEFT. I really think he was a Democrat.

He was close friends with Jimmy Carter and he was pro-abortion..... Can't get more LEFT than that.

:rofl Right! I love your "logic"! So is Bush 41 a Democrat? He's close friends with Bill Clinton? Or is Bill Clinton a Republican...he's close friends with Bush 41?

Ford was a real Midwest Republican....what he wasn't is a NEOCON like our current administration. He didn't believe in attacking another country without provocation like Bush did. He believed in DIPLOMACY and SANCTIONS something that Bush does not believe in.

So maybe you're right...Ford is much more of a REPUBLICAN than Bush is...and in that sense he's much closer to being a Democrat than Bush is...Bush is a mutant...his politics are not Republican, not Conservative, not Democratic...he's a dyed in the wool NEOCON....a bunch of power crazy former Republicans who have a personal economic agenda above all else....

BTW - Citing Ford as being Pro-Choice thus not making him a Republican is a true stretch of one's imagination...but I will consider the source...

 

[tryreading]

:rofl Right! I love your "logic"! So is Bush 41 a Democrat? He's close friends with Bill Clinton? Or is Bill Clinton a Republican...he's close friends with Bush 41?

Ford was a real Midwest Republican....what he wasn't is a NEOCON like our current administration. He didn't believe in attacking another country without provocation like Bush did. He believed in DIPLOMACY and SANCTIONS something that Bush does not believe in.

So maybe you're right...Ford is much more of a REPUBLICAN than Bush is...and in that sense he's much closer to being a Democrat than Bush is...Bush is a mutant...his politics are not Republican, not Conservative, not Democratic...he's a dyed in the wool NEOCON....a bunch of power crazy former Republicans who have a personal economic agenda above all else....

BTW - Citing Ford as being Pro-Choice thus not making him a Republican is a true stretch of one's imagination...but I will consider the source...

Damn right. Our incoming Republican governor in Florida, Charlie Crist, is pro-choice. Doesn't make him a Democrat. Its too bad that some voters decide who to elect based on this one issue.

 

[doughgirl]

“BTW - Citing Ford as being Pro-Choice thus not making him a Republican is a true stretch of one's imagination...but I will consider the source…’

He was a liberal Republican border line Democrat in his ideals. I think he was a very wonder and fine human being, I am not bashing him in the least. I made a valid observation. Pro-choice Republicans are a rarity.


Consider the source all you want……your as predictable in your answers as I am in mine.


Bush and Clinton buddies? Yea right. :rofl

they are civil in public they have to be. But would the two families get together for the holidays? You tell me. Not when Hillary bashes George at every opportunity.

tryreading said, “Damn right. Our incoming Republican governor in Florida, Charlie Crist, is pro-choice. Doesn't make him a Democrat. Its too bad that some voters decide who to elect based on this one issue.”

This is a big issue for me and why I will never vote for a Democrat.

Now be honest would you ever vote Republican? Would any who are staunch Democrats here…….vote Republican?

I highly doubt it. The mere word repulses them.

And the last election in November, I believe the Republicans got slammed over ONE ISSUE, the war in Iraq. Guess people do focus in on one issue, because our economy and everything on the home front with the exception of immigration is fine.

 

[26 X World Champs]

He was a liberal Republican border line Democrat in his ideals. I think he was a very wonder and fine human being, I am not bashing him in the least. I made a valid observation. Pro-choice Republicans are a rarity.

HO HO HO! Ford was the leader of the GOP in the House for many years! So please tell me how he was "border line Democrat? Get a clue!

BTW - There are 7 - soon to be 6 pro-Choice GOP Senators:

Lincoln Chaffee (RI), Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Gordon Smith (OR), Olympia Snowe (ME), Arlen Specter (PA), Ted Stevens (Alaska) and John Warner (VA).

That would make it 6 out of 49 or about 12%....and that's the Senate...

Now look at this nugget:

a recent American Viewpoint poll that found that 73 percent of Republicans claim to be pro-choice. The organization says it is an outspoken minority that has overwhelmed those voices and established the party’s agenda.

Source: Q&A: A Fight for the GOP's 'Heart and Soul' - Newsweek Campaign 2004 - MSNBC.com

Bush and Clinton buddies? Yea right. :rofl

they are civil in public they have to be. But would the two families get together for the holidays? You tell me. Not when Hillary bashes George at every opportunity.

You're mixing up Bush 41 the Republican versus Bush 43 the NEOCON. Bush 41 and President Clinton are more than "civil in public" but maybe you only watch FNC so who knows how you've formed your opinion? Did you even hear Bush 41's speech at the opening of the Clinton Library? Probably not since it was not an event that would attract people of your point of view.

This is a big issue for me and why I will never vote for a Democrat.

Now be honest would you ever vote Republican? Would any who are staunch Democrats here…….vote Republican?

I highly doubt it. The mere word repulses them.

You're amazing, really! I'm sure you consider me a staunch Democrat right? Well I am....but I regularly vote for Republicans in local elections, i.e. Bloomberg, Guilianni and others...just because you're unable to ever vote for your conscience versus your party does not mean that's how most people vote...even Navy Pride votes every two years for his Democratic congressman.

Tell us again about Republicans and Choice? It's a hoot!

And the last election in November, I believe the Republicans got slammed over ONE ISSUE, the war in Iraq. Guess people do focus in on one issue, because our economy and everything on the home front with the exception of immigration is fine.[/QUOTE]

 

[tryreading]

This is a big issue for me and why I will never vote for a Democrat.

Now be honest would you ever vote Republican? Would any who are staunch Democrats here…….vote Republican?

I highly doubt it. The mere word repulses them.

And the last election in November, I believe the Republicans got slammed over ONE ISSUE, the war in Iraq. Guess people do focus in on one issue, because our economy and everything on the home front with the exception of immigration is fine.

There are pro-life democrats. I am not sure of the numbers before the election, but six new Democrat pro-lifers were elected to the House, and one to the Senate in November.

The Republicans got slammed for more than Iraq. There were several scandals that hurt the party, and the runaway spending didn't help either. There was also some hypocritical behavior that embarrassed the party in the last few years, and it wasn't forgotten by the voters.

Would I vote for a Republican? Yes I would. But I'm not a staunch Democrat. I may be 100% liberal on personal rights, but moderate to conservative on most issues like military strength, fiscal policy, border protection, etc.

 

[doughgirl]

You know I'm not going to fight over what Gerald Ford was or was not today. Not while his funeral is going on. He was a godly, honorable man of morals and he was a true patriot....plus he was from Michigan my home state.

Those on the LEFT here that would even start a thread not really focusing on Ford and what he meant to our country but of their hatred towards Bush are pathetic, absoltuely pathetic.

I am not a Republican I am not a Democrat, but I repsect the office of the Presidency and the men who gave service to the country.

Its to bad others here only can feel hate in their heart for those not like them.

 

[Hatuey]

I am not a Republican I am not a Democrat, but I repsect the office of the Presidency and the men who gave service to the country.

This is a big issue for me and why I will never vote for a Democrat.

Yeah...for some reason I'm having a hard time beliving you'd vote for Nader which would kinda make ya a republican...