Bill Clinton: U.S. Invaded Iraq Too Soon

During Interview To Promote His Book "Giving," Says U.N. Inspectors Needed More Time

(CBS)  Former President Clinton, seeking to clarify a recent assertion that he was against the Iraq war "from the beginning," said Monday he's maintained all along that United Nations weapons inspectors should have been given more time to complete their work in Iraq prior to the United States-led 2003 invasion.

Had the inspectors been given that time, Mr. Clinton told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Monday, "There would have been no war."

While stumping for his wife, presidential contender and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton in Iowa late last month, Mr. Clinton said, "Even though I approved of Afghanistan, and I opposed Iraq from the beginning, I still regret that I was not asked or given the opportunity to support those soldiers." He was referring to a tax cut he, Hillary and other wealthy Americans got using money that could have gone to the military.

But a review of previous remarks by Mr. Clinton revealed that, among other things, he said in May 2003, "I supported the president (Bush) when he asked for authority to stand up against weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."

Critics have called such remarks inconsistent.

But Mr. Clinton remarked to Smith Monday that he's said "a hundred times" that the weapons inspectors needed more time on the ground. "Nobody ever said it before because everybody who knows what was going on and knows me knows that I was trying to get even a new U.N. resolution passed," the former president said. "I was involved with an effort behind the scenes to talk to some people around the world to try to see if we could get another resolution passed to give (the inspectors) some more time.

"I supported threatening Saddam so we could do the inspections, but I believe -- I even believe the Senate resolution, if you read it, said that the force was authorized if the diplomatic efforts -- i.e. -- the inspections -- failed.

"The mistake we made was not letting the inspections finish. If they had, there would have been no war. And i was always against doing it without the inspections.

"Now, after Saddam was deposed, the united nations' position was we should all do what we can to make it work, and everybody was hoping it would. And still, I think we should still hope it works. We should hope those people have a government that's representative and that they can work out their oil deals and their conflicts and go on to a better life.

"But I believe it was a serious error to go in there before the inspectors finished. And as you (Smith) pointed out, most of my speeches weren't getting covered by the press, and we didn't copy them or anything back then. But we do have several records, including one six days before the invasion where I said I don't think they should do this until the inspections finished. That was the deal.

"And if we had done it, there would have been no war."

Asked about remarks by civil rights icon Andrew Young that another candidate for the Democratic presidential nod, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, would make a good president -- in 2016 -- and that Young feels Mr. Clinton is "as black as Barack," Mr. Clinton chuckled and he and young had "been friends a long time, and you know, my (current) office (being) in Harlem, I've always been close to the African-American community. I think we're trying to build an America where we're all pulling in the same direction. And you know, Hillary and I have been working on a lot of these issues together that are very important to African-Americans now.

Later, the former president added, "I think that there are a lot of people across the color line now that want to give all our children a chance and all our people a chance, and that's the kind of America we've got to build."

Mr. Clinton appeared on The Early Show to discuss his book, "Giving," and talk up charitable ventures.

He and Smith were in Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention. While it isn't connected to the Clinton Foundation, it is viewed as emblematic of how giving can provide immense benefit for those in need. From the $6 million gift from Lauren that got the ball rolling, to small donations that help services continue, to the people who work there -- many of the medical staffers could have much more lucrative careers -- the Lauren Center helps fills are urgent void in medcial care in the urban community.

To read an excerpt of "Giving," click here.

[previn2]

I wish Bill Clinton were President again...I just like him!

[grazinggoat]

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If only people could stop buying those carcinogenic perfumes, it would be great. It would stop inducing the first steps toward cancer. Those perfumes containing synthetic products are scarcely tested for carcinogenicity. Most often they contain a secret mixture of molecules that may well smell good, but that may cause first steps in DNA breakage, leading to Genetic Damages, and furthermore to Cancer.

-FDA should require the Perfumes to go throughout all Medicinal Drugs steps of toxicity and safety.

[mudrose-2009]

US: BILL CLINTON INVADED INTERN TOO SOON

Posted by verifyuser

TALK ABOUT WATERBOARDING.

[realpatriot1]

verifyuser, The intern survived. Too many of our troops and innocent Iraqi civilians have not.

mudrose,

Some of our own military analysts have pointed out that
a timetable for withdrawal would put the onus on the Iraqi government to prepare for that withdrawal. What we have instead is Bush & Cheney & Maliki floating trial balloons of a permanent American presence in Iraq.

That''s not working to get our troops out of there or making Iraq stable. No Democrat I know is sorry that the violence is down in Iraq. What we''re sorry about is that we aren''t using that opportunity to begin the process of getting the hell out.

Neocons want to have it both ways, they want to say that Iraq is stable but that Iraqis need more time to run and defend their own country. The improved security presents the opportunity for a diplomatic full court press. Where is it?

The Iraq Study Group presented a blueprint for stabilizing Iraq and getting us out of there 2 years ago. Bush said he would listen, then he trashed the recommendations and stayed the course.

If that''s what your party wants to take to the voters, go for it!

[mudrose-2009]

Can someone please put an apple in this porkers mouth and roast him somewhere, preferrably on some distant and uninhabitable island where the critters can munch on him?

[mudrose-2009]

They have imposed upon the American people endless theatre in their so-called quest for oversight and every time they have to fund the troops, come up with another so-called scandal. The Intelligence Committee and Nancy Pelosi were well aware of our waterboarding techniques. They signed off on it and now once again political theatre. No bills to fund the troops, but plenty of ********* on light bulbs and planet warming. Where the hell are their priorities. We should pamper the enemy and punish the troops. Typical progressive politics. Sorry the Democratic party was once like the Republican the grant ole party. Now it''s plagued with socialists and communists hell bent on taking America down. We were founded on religious principles in the sense that the Founders said our rights were given to us by God. We are the only country in the world that believes man''s freedom is derived from his Creator. No God, No America. So much for the Rule of Law.

[mudrose-2009]

One comment said "Democrats have 2008 in the bag" -- as a lifelong Democrat, I am not so sure. We won Congress b/c of how things were going in Iraq. But since we took power, our Congress has gotten little if anything done. We are still in the war, and despite our efforts to surrender in Iraq, the Republicans have turned the war around and now the USA is winning -- THIS IS BAD FOR US AS DEMOCRATS BECAUSE NOW THE REPUBLICANS WILL GET CREDIT FOR WINNING THE WAR AND WE WILL BE SEEN AS WEAK IN THE WAR ON TERROR. I am afraid we have convinced the American people to vote Republican even though most people dont like Bush.
Posted by bobmarisol

Very insightful commentary. Instead of supporting our troops and putting our unifed heads together to get this war over with and stablize Iraq and bring the troops home, the Dimnowits have done everything in their power to undermine the troops, the President and this Country.

[bobmarisol]

One comment said "Democrats have 2008 in the bag" -- as a lifelong Democrat, I am not so sure. We won Congress b/c of how things were going in Iraq. But since we took power, our Congress has gotten little if anything done. We are still in the war, and despite our efforts to surrender in Iraq, the Republicans have turned the war around and now the USA is winning -- THIS IS BAD FOR US AS DEMOCRATS BECAUSE NOW THE REPUBLICANS WILL GET CREDIT FOR WINNING THE WAR AND WE WILL BE SEEN AS WEAK IN THE WAR ON TERROR. I am afraid we have convinced the American people to vote Republican even though most people dont like Bush.

[donbl1]

J, that $84B through 1997 for Israel is since 1947.

[usayesterday]

Good evening all. As always a pleasure.

Posted by formrusmcsgt at 08:27 PM : Dec 10, 2007
...

Have a good one Sarge.

And I shall exit stage right (or left) as well.

Good night gents.

[poopusbuttus]

poopus doesnt admit to being a thief. Where did you get that idea?

[formrusmcsgt]

Yeah, I guess your right. In fact, it''''s right in the same realm as you calling me a "Thief"......but hey, I can take it :)

Posted by poopusbuttus at 08:25 PM : Dec 10, 2007

I didn''t call you a theif until you admitted being one, poopus.

Good evening all. As always a pleasure.

[poopusbuttus]

No frankly, it does not to a grown man.

What you call "messing" with us just makes you appear adolescent, not to mention shallow.....



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Posted by formrusmcsgt


Yeah, I guess your right. In fact, it''s right in the same realm as you calling me a "Thief"......but hey, I can take it :)

[formrusmcsgt]

No. I hurl insults because I''''m just messing with you guys. If that makes any sense at all :)

Posted by poopusbuttus at 08:22 PM : Dec 10, 2007

No frankly, it does not to a grown man.

What you call "messing" with us just makes you appear adolescent, not to mention shallow.....

[poopusbuttus]

Is that where you learned to hurl insults at the enemy rather than fight with honor?


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Posted by formrusmcsgt



No. I hurl insults because I''m just messing with you guys. If that makes any sense at all :)

[formrusmcsgt]

And yes, I''''m a veteran of 12 and a half years in the U.S. Army...

Posted by poopusbuttus at 08:17 PM : Dec 10, 2007

Is that where you learned to hurl insults at the enemy rather than fight with honor?

[formrusmcsgt]

I never said that you guys were "Morally inferior", stupid, yes....but not morally inferior...

Posted by poopusbuttus at 08:16 PM : Dec 10, 2007

I stand corrected. You, in fact, did not.

[j-whitman]

dontb1,,,,, Go all the way back to 1947, we were involved in both countries then & dumping money in them both --

[poopusbuttus]

And yes, I''m a veteran of 12 and a half years in the U.S. Army...

[poopusbuttus]

I have about 100 more if you really want them, poopus.






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Posted by formrusmcsgt


FORESKIN -- Now, you dang good and well that I can dig up just as many libs that are freaks. I never said that you guys were "Morally inferior", stupid, yes....but not morally inferior...