Refresh Clinton's Memory

This cnn.com piece from 1998 may help those who tend to forget some of the events that led up to the Iraq effort to remove Saddam Hussein. It seems former President Clinton himself forgets much of this as he continues to be critical of the present Iraq situation.

Saddam (Hussein) must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world
with nuclear arms, poison gas or biological weapons," Clinton said.

He then went on to say,

Earlier today I ordered America's armed forces to strike military and
security targets in Iraq. They are joined by British forces," Clinton said.
"Their mission is to attack Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons
programs and its military capacity to threaten its neighbors," said Clinton.

My how memories get foggy over time. Not only over time, but whom the press wishes to denegrate influences them as well. Now we hear how the inspectors were doing such a marvelous job over there. Remember this from 1998?

Instead of inspectors disarming Saddam, Saddam has disarmed the
inspectors," Clinton said.
"In halting our airstrikes in November, I gave
Saddam a chance -- not a license. If we turn our backs on his defiance, the
credibility of U.S. power as a check against Saddam will be destroyed," the
president explained.

One would think given all the information Clinton had at his disposal and some of the actions he took, he would remember what we were dealing with in Iraq with Saddam at the helm. Politics apparently does funny things to one's memory.

Just a thought.