We all know that John Edwards regrets his vote to authorize President Bush to use military force against Iraq (H.J. Res. 114). His willingness to say that he was wrong (unlike Hillary Clinton) is certainly admirable. What seems to have been forgotten, however, is Edwards's co-sponsorship of S.J. Res. 46, Joe Lieberman's October 2002 resolution to authorize the use of the US Armed Forces against Iraq. Along with Zell Miller, Strom Thurmond, Jesse Helms, John McCain, and 11 others, Edwards lined up beside Lieberman to advance the legislation. S.J. Res. 46 never went to a vote as it was replaced by H.J. Res. 114, which sadly passed 77-23.
We are normally led to understand that Edwards simply went with the tide in Congress and voted in favor of H.J. Res. 114. But the truth is that, by virtue of his cosponsorship of S.J. Res. 46, he seems to have actively promoted an invasion.
Raising S.J. Res. 46 now is not meant as a "hit job" on Edwards. I tend to like what the man says today, and I too am tired of the vitriol in our campaign diaries. But this decision speaks profoundly to his judgment, and I just can't get past it. I'm wondering how you do.
Note, for example, how the legislation's language is lifted from the Bush-Cheney playbook, linking Iraq to 9-11:
Whereas members of al Qaida, an organization bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in Iraq;
Whereas Iraq continues to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and safety of American citizens;
Whereas the attacks on the United States of September 11, 2001, underscored the gravity of the threat that Iraq will transfer weapons of mass destruction to international terrorist organizations; [therefore...]
The President is authorized to use all means that he determines to be appropriate, including force, in order to enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolutions referenced above, defend the national security interests of the United States against the threat posed by Iraq, and restore international peace and security in the region.
Remember: this legislation was proposed in October 2002, months after two April 2002 CIA assessments, a May 2002 Defense Intelligence Agency fabrication notice, and a July 2002 National Intelligence Council warning that the intelligence from the Iraqi National Congress that postulated a Saddam-al Qaeda relationship was fabricated. Keep in mind as well that intelligence reports
in June, July and September 2002 all cast doubts on a reported meeting in Prague between Iraqi intelligence agents and Sept. 11 hijacker Mohamed Atta.
For me and many others, Edwards's work on S. J. Res. 46 is an absolute deal-breaker. Too many lives have been lost on all sides -- and too many dollars spent, funds that could have been directed to alleviate poverty or generate "green-collar" jobs, issues that Edwards rightfully talks a lot about now -- for me to consider him as a Democratic nominee for President.
So my question to you is -- and again, it is earnestly posed -- how do you reconcile your support of Edwards with S.J. Res. 46?