I was one who supported giving President Bush the authority, if necessary, to use force against Saddam Hussein. I believe that that was the right vote. I have had many disputes and disagreements with the administration over how that authority has been used, but I stand by the vote to provide the authority because I think it was a necessary step in order to maximize the outcome that did occur in the Security Council with the unanimous vote to send in inspectors.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker supported authorizing force against Saddam Hussein as a necessary step to gain UN security council cooperation for inspectors, despite later disagreements on how that authority was used.
- In plain terms
- I voted for the power to use force because it helped get inspectors approved, even though I disagreed with how the government used that power later.
- What can you take from it?
- Supporting a strategic move can be right even if the execution later disappoints.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Was the authorization worth the subsequent disputes?
- How do you judge a vote by its intent versus its outcome?
Another view
The justification relies on a specific diplomatic outcome that may not have been the primary result.
More from Hillary Clinton
In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his…
Permalink to quote #15 He ran a gas station down in St. Louis: No, Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader of the 20th century.
Permalink to quote #17 Every nation has to either be with us, or against us. Those who harbor terrorists, or who finance them, are going to pay a price.
Permalink to quote #14
Related quotes
In anticipation of their surrender strategy becoming substantially less popular in the wake of another terrorist attack, the Democrats are all claiming that th…
Ann CoulterAnn Coulter quote #30 If we re-elect Bush, we are endorsing the Bush doctrine. And then we are off to a vicious circle of escalating violence in the world. And I think, you know, te…
George SorosGeorge Soros quote #38 Gad, sir, Lord Beaverbrook is right! A conference should be held at once for the U. S. A. to pay back the money Europe owes her.
David LowDavid Low quote #1