Bill Clinton’s assertion to Arab students that the United States made a “big mistake” in invading Iraq was greeted with a standing ovation and cheers. That response doesn’t speak well of our reputation in the Arab world.
Clinton, at a forum at the American University of Dubai, said, “It was a big mistake. The American government made several errors . . . one of which is how easy it would be to get rid of Saddam and how hard it would be to unite the country.”
Posted by Melissa Cooley
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45 Comments
“That response doesn’t speak well of our reputation in the Arab world.”
Are you nuts?
What we have done to Iraq doesn’t speak well for our reputation in the Arab world.
The Arab world only see us as sucking-up to Israeli greed.
That’s our reputation.
So how in the hell to you hurt that?
“Saddam is gone. It’s a good thing, but I don’t agree with what was done,” Clinton.
Clinton said it would have been better if the United States had left Iraq’s “fundamental military and social and police structure intact.”
Absolutely classic Clinton. I like that he’s gone, but don’t like how we got him out. Well how else would you have recommended, Bubba? Not war, a dozen UN resolutions did nothing. A MoveOn.org Saddam must Go petition by chance? Yet, even that Saddam’s gone (which is good, remember) we were supposed to leave the fundamental military, police and social structure “intact.” Which were all, well, Saddam’s.
Reading comphrehension, basic logic, stock up Rhonda, you’re running low.
Hey, it works in Bosnia. Leaving the infrastructure intact allowed easier control of the organisation, and not suddenly turning weapon-trained personnel out on the street without job. Would have co-opted the Sunni-dominated army and not given them to Saddam’s sympathisers. Let the Iraqis themselves do the nation-rebuilding instead of Halliburton.
Wait, didn’t the Allied Troops do exactly this back in WW2, letting local officials do the day-to-day business, freeing the troops to fight the war?
Exactly Roo! The whole mess was a result of simple minded people trying to further their hidden agenda of controlling the Middle East and the flow of oil.Bush could have learned a few things from Clinton. The mission in Bosnia was vastly more succesful than Dubya’s attempt to control Iraq.
You want to get rid of Saddam?
Drop a bomb on him. Long story short. Problem solved.
You don’t send in 150,000 troops to control a country the size of California, and send the 400,000 Sunni army home with guns and no jobs.
How dumb can you get? Well, that’s how dumb Bush is . . .
“one of which is how easy it would be to get rid of Saddam and how hard it would be to unite the country.”
What a buffoon….You can disagree with policy, but Bush never said this was going to be EASY!
dr,It was Cheney and Wolfowitz that said we’d be done in a month or so, and out by the end of the year (2003).
Cite the quotes and sources please
The irony of it all. The Muslim fundamentalist hate Western civilization because of our ’sinful’ society. Yet, Mr. Sin, Cigar Man, Definition of IS Man, can still get a rise out of something other than an interns dress.
Too fricken funny!
The irony of it all. The Muslim fundamentalist hate Western civilization because of our ’sinful’ society. Yet, Mr. Sin, Cigar Man, Definition of IS Man, can still get a rise out of something other than an interns dress.
Too fricken funny!
The irony of it all. The Muslim fundamentalist hate Western civilization because of our ’sinful’ society. Yet, Mr. Sin, Cigar Man, Definition of IS Man, can still get a rise out of something other than an interns dress.
Too fricken funny!
Sorry for the triple dose of posts folks. TypeKeys idea of a security gate to prevent auto-posting delays your posts.
Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.Douglas Adams
ID, the ’sinful’ society excuse is wearing very thin. In fact, it’s so thin, it’s transparent. I’m surprised you aren’t able to see the truth through it, but maybe you should take off your GW Rose-colored glasses. The Middle East cares nothing about our culture, except the part that supports and funds Israel. I’m nowhere near the rabid anti-Zionist that Ed is, but if you talk to anyone in the ME, you’d know why we’re disliked and to the point of being hated by some. Our invasion and occupation of Iraq has only added fuel to their smoldering opinion of the U.S.
It’s typical of neocons to bring up Monica-gate, while our troops are dying daily…for what?
Go, Bill! It’s nice to see you step up and tell it like it is…or should’ve been. Even Daddy Bush is disappointed in GW.
Clintons answer to the same questions was to shoot a billion bucks of missiles at him and say Mission Accomplished.Worst President Ever.
Worst president ever? Has it occurred to you that Clinton was probably one of the best presidents ever? Republikans hate Clinton because he was something they could never be, a competent president. The economy boomed under him and unemployment was at one of the lowest levels ever. And don’t give me that crap that it was the republicans (daddy bush) because that is plain BS. All the republikans have is unsubstantiated claims that it was their policies during the daddy bush years. I remember during the daddy bush he had an economic reform policy for every country except this one. And try this on, for eight years Clinton was responsible for running the country and equipping the armed forces. Those are the same troops Bush sent into Afghanistan after 9/11. Did he really do that bad? I think not. Clinton is a patriot who sees all of his work destroyed by bush and his cronies and the continual screwing of the poor and middle class for the greater wealth of the rich.
Nope. Mr Hummer was the worst.None of what you quoted from various dumocrat talking points was true. The economy bubble poped before he was out. No military programs were started and the troops were cut dramatically. He was just a small time criminal from arkansas that lied his way into wht white house.
Wow! With Clinton we had 8 yrs of good economy, a balanced budget, no terrorist attacks, a decrease in welfare recipients and crime, the Bosnian conflict was settled quickly and effectively, and the nation certainly wasn’t divided like it is now.With Bush we have a massive deficit, we invaded a country for no valid reason and now a war with no end in sight, out of sight fuel prices, the flow of jobs overseas, more unemployment, more tax breaks for the rich, more Americans than ever without health insurance, illegal aliens from Mexico basically given the green light to come across the border and take jobs “that Americans won’t do” (Dubya’s own words), we’ve alienated our allies, created training grounds for terrorists due to our foreign policies, and now have a president who condones torture and has a cabinet full of criminals.How does this make Bush a better president than Clinton, Joe?
Everything you said was wrong Damoon, the economy stunk under Clinton, the biggest drop in the stock market since the depression happen during his presidency. We had the largest tax hike in history, and we were attacked 7 times by terrorist. The best Clinton could say was we will find them and punish them which never happen. The nation was divided, Clinton never got over 43% of the popular vote and he signed the NAFTA bill.There was an absolutely valid reason to invade Iraq; it’s your problem you don’t want to understand it. The unemployment is at the same rate it was during Clinton era. Clinton allowed the terrorists to come into the United States to train to fly the airplanes they hijacked and it was Clinton that was impeached. Clinton weakened the intelligence agency to the point of it being ineffective which is why we have the problems we have now. Bush does not condone torture and he has stated that may time. Try listening to him, Damoon, maybe you would understand Bush is a much better president then Clinton and you are much safer due to Bush.
get it, do you have anything to back up your claims? Well, I have the facts for you.
“the economy stunk under Clinton, the biggest drop in the stock market since the depression happen during his presidency.”
During Clinton’s tenure, the U.S. enjoyed continuous economic expansion, reductions in unemployment, and growing wealth through a massive rise in the stock market.
“We had the largest tax hike in history”
We also had the Taxpayer Relief Act and Welfare Reform–you know, that thing you right-wingers gripe about constantly. Alan Greenspan supported the 1993 tax increase, which was approved by Congress without a single Republican vote.
Under Clinton:More than 18 million new jobs.Homeownership rate increase from 64.0% to 67.5%.Lowest unemployment rate in 30 years.Higher incomes at all levels.Largest budget deficit in American history converted to the largest surplus of over $200 billion.Lowest government spending as a percentage of GDP since 1974.Higher stock ownership by families than ever before.
” we were attacked 7 times by terrorist.”Name them. And by the way, the perps of the first WTC bombing were captured, tried, and are enjoying prison. I can list 10 terrorist attacks that Clinton stopped.
“he signed the NAFTA bill.”NAFTA was negotiated by George HW Bush, but yes, Clinton lobbied for it and it passed during his administration.
I’m not even going to continue posting the facts about your comments, but if you want them, I’ll post them.
Bush claimed to be a uniter, not a divider. Take a look around. Take a look at these blogs. We’re more divided than ever. You say Bush doesn’t condone torture because that’s what he’s said, yet he’ll veto a bill, if passed, that’s against using torture.
Want to talk unemployment? Then let’s talk underemployment. Or don’t you understand what that is?
One of these days, when you’ve finished listening to Rush and Hannity, try doing some research, instead of practicing your (invalid) talking points.
Clinton created more jobs in an average month than George “miserable failure” Bush did in four years.
If it weren’t for gov’t jobs, he would have been the first president since Hoover to have lost jobs in his first term.
Jed–don’t you love the reich-wing?
They believe anything that comes out of Bush’s mouth, until it starts to look embarassing and idiotic, then they’re all “oh yeah, where’s the proof–show me the links.”
Wolfowitz and Cheney repeatedly talked about how we would be viewed as “liberators, with sweets and candy.” Unfortunately they left out the important adjective “exploding.”
The president’s comptroller said that the entire Iraq invasion and occupation would not cost more than “15 billion dollars.” Again, he forgot to include the phrase “every two weeks.”
Look, dittoheads, he’s you’re f**k up. If you can’t keep what he says straight, don’t ask us to do it for you.
dr.I remember Cheney telling us we would be greeted as liberators. The Iraqi people would line up to cheer us. There was even talk of sending in tiny american flags the Iraqi people could wave.
Maybe the first few months the Iraqi’s thought we were there to help them. Probably not long after we guarded the Oil Ministry’s offices against looters. Leaving the hospitals, school, and museums open for anyone’s greedy hands was probably about when then Iraqi’s knew we weren’t there to help them.The oil ministry was why we were there.In the beginning, Cheney truly believed it would be easy. That’s why there was no exit plan.
Drhere are the quotes. I’m afraid I havent’ found the original transcript yet, but can you really say you dont’remember this interview?”Russert: If your analysis is not correct, and we’re not treated as liberators, but as conquerors, and the Iraqis begin to resist, particularly in Baghdad, do you think the American people are prepared for a long, costly, and bloody battle with significant American casualties?”
“VP Cheney: Well, I don’t think it’s likely to unfold that way, Tim, because I really do believe that we will be greeted as liberators. I’ve talked with a lot of Iraqis in the last several months myself, had them to the White House. The president and I have met with them, various groups and individuals, people who have devoted their lives from the outside to trying to change things inside Iraq. And like Kanan Makiya who’s a professor at Brandeis, but an Iraqi, he’s written great books about the subject, knows the country intimately, and is a part of the democratic opposition and resistance. The read we get on the people of Iraq is there is no question but what they want to the get rid of Saddam Hussein and they will welcome as liberators the United States when we come to do that.”
IDClinton had sex that was a crime to the world.Bush is the first administration to have an official indicted in how long? Almost all of the top dogs in the Republican party are being investigated on many different issues.How can you believe Bush isn’t sinful? AT least Clintons sins dont’ have more than 1500 dead serviceman, many more wounded severely. Not to count those iraqi civilians that are really just insurgents in disguise.Did you see any of the pictures from Italy’s account of Fallujah and see the children and women who were burned in their clothes by the white phosphorous we used?
drhere’s your link.http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3080244
Well ole Billy screwed an intern, but Dubbya is screwing the whole country. lol
Dear Ditto-heads, you want proof?
March 16, 2003–Tim Russert: “If your analysis is not correct, and we’re not treated as liberators, but as conquerors, and the Iraqis begin to resist . . . do you think Americans are prepared for a long, costly, and bloody battle with significant American casualties?”
VP Dick Cheney: “I don’t think it’s likely to unfold that way, Tim, because I really do believe that we will be greeted as liberators.”
*****Ass’t Secry of Defense Paul Wolfowitz (March 27, 2003): “Iraq has 15 to 20 billion dollars a year in oil exports. . . There’s a lot of money there and to assume that we’re going to pay for it (occupation and rebuilding) is just wrong. . . . we’re dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction, and relatively soon.”
So . . . if you admit that your souces of “news” don’t tell you what is going on and that you feel kinda stupid now that you’ve seen what you’re own conservative heroes said right before the war, I stand ready to ACCEPT YOUR APOLOGY.
Oops, sorry to repeat what you just posted, Sum1. Great minds think alike.
BTW, notice how quiet it gets when the war-mongers demand proof of deception . . . and then GET IT?
Wow. I don’t remember most of these lies in the daily liberal talking points. Luckily nobody pays any attention except for your buddies Al-Quida.
Get it, I’ll admitt I was just shooting from the cuff. I was referring to domestic terror attacks and had forgotten about the bomb in the basement of the WTC.As far as jobs going overseas, Bush has done nothing to encourage business to stay here. Every decision he has made has been in favor of big business and oil companies profits. He takes care of his “home base” before ever considering the how it may affect the average American.He hasn’t done a thing to promote health care for the working poor who can’t afford it and the new Medicare drug presciption program is a confusing mess.Bush has surrounded himself with incompetance, all the others jumped ship after the last election.Minimum wage jobs are not enough to support any family. Americans need real job opportunities.For the first time in my life, I’m truly scared about what’s happening to our country and I certainly don’t feel safer with Bush in power. I do travel abroad and I avoid telling people I’m an American because of how we’re percieved by the rest of the world. It’s not something I’m proud of anymore. We have Dubya to thank for that.
Why is Bush so adamant about sacrificing American soldiers lives and limbs in an un-winnable war?
Why is Bush willing to place American citizens in greater danger for retaliation from Arabs, by subjecting Arabs to an ongoing senseless slaughter, from daily bombing raids?
What was accomplished by leveling Fallugha using phosphorus to burn the flesh from its civilians?
Could a few dozen determined men take-out our oil refineries, thus paralyzing our economy?
Could major bridges in the United States by destroyed by a few dozen determined men, thus paralyzing our economy??
Could our financial institutions be destroyed by a few dozen determined men, thus paralyzing our economy?
Could our power plants be destroyed by a few dozen determined men, thus paralyzing our economy?
Why is this war really so important?
What is the real reason?
What is wrong with Bush?
RD,Bush IS a uniter, not a divider! Have you ever seen this nation more united than it is now, against Bush?
Joe C. is reduced to slandering anybody who tells the truth as working for Al Qaeda.
You ought to join the “reality based” community instead of listening to shills for corporate America and Bush’s tax breaks, Joe.
Here’s another couple for you–Ted Koppel on “Nightline” Apr. 23, 2003–”I want to be sure I understood you correctly. You’re saying the top cost to the US taxpayer will be 1.7 billion. No more than that.
Andrew Natsios (Bush Co chief for int’l dvelopment)–For the reconstruction.
Koppel–(paraphrase) but what if there’s cost overuns?
Natsios–Oh, no, no, we have, that’s the amount of money we have to spend. We’re gonna do less if it costs more than that, because we have an apporpriation, we’re gonna go within the limits of the appropriation.
Koppel pressed for clarification.
Natsios–”That’s correct. 1.7 billion is the limit on reconstruction for Iraq.”
It’s hard to know exactly how much we taxpayers have spent in Iraq because BushCo really doesn’t want us to know, but it’s safe to say that the total cost is at least 200 billion, or over 100 times higher than Mr. Natsios promised us before the occupation.
*****
Six months ago, Cheney said the insurgency in Iraq is “in the last throes.” Yesterday, 89 people died in mosque attacks. Today over 50 people were killed. About 500 American soldiers have been killed since Cheney assured us that these “dead enders” were in their “last throes.”
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/30/cheney.iraq/
Jed, good point, and one that I’d forgotten.
Notice how Joe manages to wiggle out of acknowledging the truth? Now, if Rush had said it, he’d take it as God-given fact. Yeah, nothing but a bunch of ditto-heads whose brains have atrophied.
Yeah, where’s Joe?
Joe C. it is nice to see you read the republikan play book on what to do if faced with undeniable facts:
1) Deny it was ever said or done, ignore any facts presented by saying they are liberal propaganda.
2) Accuse the other side of being un-American and wanting to see American soldiers killed.
3) Accuse the other side of being allied with the enemy and of being traitors.
You know these were the tactics used by the Nazi party prior to and during WWII. Your arguments are based in ignorance and your blind allegiance to your party is indicative of a lack of understanding of the issues and the facts. While I doubt that anyone will be able to change your mind, ignorance is bliss as they say, perhaps you could at least post some facts instead of asinine accusations.
Amen, K. Well said.
Facism at it’s best, Joe.
I saw a great bumper sticker the other day, “If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t there more happy people?”
I saw two bumper stickers Damoon.Frodo failed, Bush has the ring.
I was against Bush before it was cool to be against Bush.
The bumber sticker I saw and really want said “So many Right-Wing Christians, so few lions”.
How about “God wants spiritual fruits, not religious nuts”!
My all time favorite, “Somewhere in Texas, a village is missing it’s idiot”.