Dean will be flayed alive on this.
Extract from Gov Dean's letter to Clinton in '95:
"I have reluctantly concluded that the efforts of the United States and NATO in Bosnia are a complete failure," he wrote, citing reports of genocide during the Bosnian civil war. "If we ignore these behaviors ... our moral fiber as a people becomes weakened. ... We must take UNILATERAL ACTION".
The civil war in the former Yugoslavia gave rise to war crimes and mass murders not seen in the West since World War II. U.N. peacekeeping had failed, but the Clinton administration was undecided on whether to take military action.
Remember, Yugoslavia pales when compared to the mass graves discovered in Iraq.
But...ah...er...oh yea, wha 'bout this?...
The word "imminent" is key to differentiating Dean's policy from the president's decision to invade Iraq, said Jeremy Ben-Ami, policy director for Dean's campaign. Bush "sold the war on the basis of an imminent threat to U.S. security, and that has now been shown to be false," Ben-Ami said. Since the threat from Iraq was not imminent, the administration could not properly justify the war, he said.
Not so fast there hoss...
When Bush laid out the case for the war in his 2003 State of the Union address, he said the United States SHOULD NOT WAIT for an imminent threat.
"Some have said we must not act until the threat is imminent," Bush said. "Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike? If this threat is permitted to fully and suddenly emerge, all actions, all words, and all recriminations would come too late. Trusting in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein ... is not an option."
Well said indeed, Mr. President!
Rove's gonna have to stand in line behind Gep, Kerry, & Edwards.
Game over. Next...
