Clinton Claims He Opposed Iraq War From The Beginning

But like his wife, the former president supported giving President Bush the authority needed to go to war.

"I supported the President when he asked the Congress for authority to stand up against weapons of mass destruction in Iraq," said Clinton in 2003 while delivering commencement remarks at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Miss.

Read article here

Comments

[mcartri]

"I did not have sex with that war." Billy, is that you?

[kosmotropic]

"I supported the President when he asked the Congress for authority to stand up against weapons of mass destruction in Iraq,"

The president of the United States has the quasi authority to require congress to give him such authority and Congress has the quasi obligation to do so. To hold Congress or the former President responsible for having misgivings about the war from the start but still supporting POTUS in his right to make the ultimate call is disingenuous

[camcat]

Um, so? Who's running for president? Bill or Hilary? Is his insight supposed to rub off on her, four years after her vote to empower Bush's illegal invasion?

[kosmotropic]

."I supported the President when he asked the Congress for authority to stand up against weapons of mass destruction in Iraq,"

The president of the United States has the quasi authority to require congress to give him such authority and Congress has the quasi obligation to do so. To hold Congress or the former President responsible for having misgivings about the war from the start but still supporting POTUS in his right to make the ultimate call is disingenuous

[Aurelius]

From the article: "A spokesman for Bill Clinton tried to downplay the former president's comments by distinguishing between the authority to go to war, which both Clintons supported, and President Bush's decision to use that authority when he did."

Hmm. That sounds familiar. It all depends on what "support" is, now doesn't it, Bog Dog?

[dotmafia]

"I was for the war, before I was against it".
_

[dotmafia]

"I was for the war, before I was against it."
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[Purcy]

I wish someone would clarify for me what the debate here is really about. It has been my understanding that there was a subsequent vote that would have (or did) clarify the authority that would be given to Bush. Is that correct? Because I have heard that Clinton voted against that which is supposed to have been the big mistake. However, I never did understand what the subsequent vote actually was.

[NYDamien]

Giving a President authority, and going to war are the same thing?
Who'd a thunk.