I'm reading these posts and some of it I don't agree with. Iraq was not on anybody's radar right prior to 9/11, and probably even after, up until Bush's January State of the Union address. It was only until Bush included Iraq in the "axis of evil" and began building a case against them did Iraq become an issue. Bush and the hawks in his administration were entirely responsible for the war, and the Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, rubber-stamped the war effort. Congress did not go to Bush and ask for an Iraq war resolution, the Bush Administration went to Congress and asked for one, and even strong-armed many members into voting for a resolution by sending Dick Cheney down to Congress and criticizing members of their patriotism if they didn't vote for the resolution. Although Democrats and Republicans rubber-stamped the war, major responsibility for the war lies with Bush, as he was the Executive who started and conducted the war.
Iraq disarmament crisis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Actually, Iraq was on America's radar during the entire Clinton administration. Here are just some of the quotes from prior to 9/11:
"[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." -- From a letter signed by Joe Lieberman, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara A. Milulski, Tom Daschle, & John Kerry among others on October 9, 1998
"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
"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
"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
"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 [the U.N. weapons inspectors] 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
"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 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 Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998.
"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, Feb 18, 1998.
"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
"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."
Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999.
I'd say he was definitely on the radar.
As for your comment about Cheney strong arming members of congress, that is a load of bull. The majority of both democrats and republicans in Washington supported the invasion of their own free will, just like the majority of the American people did, according to every single credible public opinion poll of the time. If Bush would not have invaded Iraq, he would have had to go against the wishes of everyone. It was America's decision to go to war with Iraq, not just president Bush's.
The major decisions that Obama has made on the other hand, have gone against the wishes of both republicans in DC, as well as the majority of the American people, and look at the results.
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