Short Memory
Joseph Hogrefe
Issue date: 3/8/04 Section: Opinion
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In light of recent attacks made against President Bush about our involvement in Iraq and the weapons of mass destruction issue, it is fitting to review history.
Liberals have been crying that President Bush should not have started this war, that there was no reason to fight Iraq, that there were no weapons of mass destruction, and that too many of our soldiers are dying.
First, we did not start the war. Terrorists started it even before September 11, 2001. We are defending ourselves and the rest of the world. We want to eliminate the terrorist threats so that they cannot strike again.
Second, is it not reason enough to engage Iraq in war in order to liberate its people from tyranny and prevent others from falling prey to terror? Is not freedom the desire of every human being?
Saddam Hussein tortured and killed his own people. No freedom-loving American would be opposed to helping to free a people who are in danger.
Have opponents of Bush policies already forgotten that the United States military found evidence of Saddam Hussein's illegal weapons programs? The evidence is clear that Saddam was planning to make more weapons of mass destruction.
What is interesting to note is that many who are bashing the President on this issue, only a few years ago were voicing the same policies that President Bush made. The only difference is that President Bush is taking action, while liberals only talk about it.
"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."
- (Former) President Clinton, February 17, 1998
"We know that he [Saddam] has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
- Al Gore, September 23, 2002
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeing and developing weapons of mass destruction."
-Senator Ted Kennedy (D, MA), September 27, 2002
Liberals have been crying that President Bush should not have started this war, that there was no reason to fight Iraq, that there were no weapons of mass destruction, and that too many of our soldiers are dying.
First, we did not start the war. Terrorists started it even before September 11, 2001. We are defending ourselves and the rest of the world. We want to eliminate the terrorist threats so that they cannot strike again.
Second, is it not reason enough to engage Iraq in war in order to liberate its people from tyranny and prevent others from falling prey to terror? Is not freedom the desire of every human being?
Saddam Hussein tortured and killed his own people. No freedom-loving American would be opposed to helping to free a people who are in danger.
Have opponents of Bush policies already forgotten that the United States military found evidence of Saddam Hussein's illegal weapons programs? The evidence is clear that Saddam was planning to make more weapons of mass destruction.
What is interesting to note is that many who are bashing the President on this issue, only a few years ago were voicing the same policies that President Bush made. The only difference is that President Bush is taking action, while liberals only talk about it.
"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."
- (Former) President Clinton, February 17, 1998
"We know that he [Saddam] has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country."
- Al Gore, September 23, 2002
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeing and developing weapons of mass destruction."
-Senator Ted Kennedy (D, MA), September 27, 2002