RE-WRITING HISTORY

From Arizona GOP National Committeman

BRUCE ASH:

Bill And Hillary Offer Another Clinton Calculation As They
Attempt To Backtrack On Their Previous Support For The Iraq War
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Yesterday, Former President Bill Clinton Claimed That He Has Been Against The Iraq War From The Beginning:

"Former President Bill Clinton Portrayed Himself As Having Been Against The Iraq War 'From The Beginning' While Campaigning Tuesday For His Wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, In Iowa." (Teddy Davis, Eloise Harper, and Nancy Flores, "Bill Clinton Rewrites History On Iraq?" ABC News' "Political Radar" Blog, www.abcnews.com, 11/27/07)

"During A Campaign Swing For His Wife, Former President Bill Clinton Said Flatly Yesterday That He Opposed The War In Iraq 'From The Beginning' -- A Statement That Is More Absolute Than His Comments Before The Invasion In March 2003." (Patrick Healy, "Bill Clinton Flatly Asserts He Opposed War At Start," The New York Times, 11/28/07)

But Previously, Clinton Defended The War In Iraq:

Clinton Defended The Mission In Iraq As Part Of The Larger War On Terror And Also Stated "That's Why I Supported The Iraq Thing." Clinton: "So, you're sitting there as President, you're reeling in the aftermath of [September 11], so, yeah, you want to go get bin Laden and do Afghanistan and all that. But you also have to say, well, my first responsibility now is to try everything possible to make sure that this terrorist network and other terrorist networks ca nnot reach chemical and biological weapons or small amounts of fissile material. I've got to do that. That's why I supported the Iraq thing." ("His Side Of The Story," Time, 6/28/04)

Clinton Bid Saddam "Good Riddance" And Praised Action Taken Against Him. "'Saddam is gone and good riddance,' former President Bill Clinton said yesterday. Clinton also said Bush should not be faulted if banned weapons of mass destruction aren't found. 'I don't think you can criticize the President for trying to act on the belief that they have a substantial amount of chemical and biological stock. ... That is what I was always told.'" (Joel Siegel, "W Fought A Good Fight, Clinton Says," [New York] Daily News, 4/16/03)

Clinton: "I supported the president when he asked the Congress for authority to stand up against weapons of mass destruction in Iraq." (Former President Bill Clinton, Remarks At Tougaloo College Commencement, Jackson, MS, 5/18/03)

On The Campaign Trail, Democrat Presidential Candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Claims That If She Had Been President In 2002, She Would Not Have Started The Iraq War:

Hillary: "If I had been president in October of 2002, I would not have started this war." (Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Remarks At Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting, Washington, D.C., 2/2/07)

Hillary: "We never should have gone there. ... [B]ut we are there now and we have to end the war in the right way." (Beth Fouhy, "Clintons Make Rare Public Appearance Together At Major New York Fundraiser," The Associated Press, 3/19/07)

But In 2002 And 2003, Hillary Voted "With Conviction" For The Use Of Force Authorization Against Iraq And Said It Was The "Right Decision":

Hillary: "[B]ut the fundamental fact remains that this man posed a threat to his neighbors. There is no doubt in anyone's mind - because we had already seen him use it - that he would have employed weapons of mass destruction at some future date. Although we may have gone a little too far, we believe we made the right decision." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Congressional Record, 10/17/03, p. S12828)

Hillary: "This is a difficult vote. This is probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make. Any vote that may lead to war should be hard, but I cast it with conviction. ... So it is with conviction that I support his resolution as being in the best interests of our nation." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Congressional Record, 10/10/02, pp. S10289-S10290)

"Perhaps My Decision Is Influenced By My 8 Years Of Experience On The Other End Of Pennsylvania Avenue In The White House Watching My Husband Deal With Serious Challenges To Our Nation." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, Congressional Record, 10/10/02, p. S10289)

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