I voted to hold Saddam Hussein accountable. I knew we had to hold him accountable. There's never been a doubt about that. But I also know that if we had done this with a sufficient number of troops, if we had done this in a globalized way, if we had brought more people to the table, we might have caught Saddam Hussein sooner. We might have had less loss of life. We would be in a stronger position today with respect to what we're doing.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Kerry argues that holding Saddam Hussein accountable was correct but execution mattered.
- In plain terms
- Holding leaders accountable is right, but planning affects outcomes.
- What can you take from it?
- Strategy and international cooperation matter in accountability.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes accountability effective?
- How do we weigh costs in war?
Another view
Retrospective critique ignores the uncertainty of past decisions.
More from John Kerry
I said at the time I would have preferred if we had given diplomacy a greater opportunity, but I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam Hussein, and …
Permalink to quote #7 We're going to keep pounding. These guys [Bush Administration] are the most crooked, you know, lying group I've ever seen. It's scary.
Permalink to quote #9 If you don't believe...Saddam Hussein is a threat with nuclear weapons, then you shouldn't vote for me.
Permalink to quote #6
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