Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The war in Iraq isn't very popular these days.
So, of course, the politicians are all about blaming W and demanding timetables for troop withdrawal and saying the whole thing was a big mistake.
Things were very different right before we went to war. That's when the war thing was popular.
All the politicians were waving flags and pledging their support.
Well, not all of them. But the vast majority of them, anyway.
I will be the first to admit the American people were misled about Iraq.
We were misled about weapons of mass destruction. We were misled about Saddam's connection - or lack of connection - to 9/11.
In fact, I admitted that back on Aug. 27 in this very column:
(I used to give W the benefit of the doubt.
I thought he got bad intelligence. After all, the whole world - Germany, Russia, France, everybody - thought Saddam had WMD.
But later, when the intelligence assessments came out, one could see that the whole case for WMDs and al-Qaieda was exaggerated.)
I think W was pretty sure Iraq had WMD, but I also think he and others in his administration ignored any evidence to the contrary.
And I think some of the sources of information regarding WMD were less than credible.
So, yes, we were misled. Let's investigate. Let's find out why and hold people accountable.
But the thing that really annoys me is the fact that some of the biggest critics of the war right now were some of the biggest cheerleaders when the war was popular.
That's the sad part. It's governing by the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.
The war's popular - wave the flag. The war's unpopular - hurl accusations.
It's amazing to me how short politicians' memories are.
Consider this readily available - and quite impressive - list of quotes from our distinguished leaders in Washington:
"[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." - Democratic Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle and John Kerry in a letter to President Clinton, Oct. 9, 1998.
"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process." -Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Dec. 16, 1998.
"There is no doubt that ... Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf War status. In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies." Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) in a letter, Dec 5, 2001.
"We begin with the common belief that Saddam Hussein is a tyrant and a threat to the peace and stability of the region. He has ignored the mandate of the United Nations and is building weapons of mass destruction and the means of delivering them." Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Sept. 19, 2002.
"We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country." Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.
"Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." Al Gore, Sept. 23, 2002.
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), Sept. 27, 2002.
"The last U.N. weapons inspectors left Iraq in October of 1998. We are confident that Saddam Hussein retains some stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, and that he has since embarked on a crash course to build up his chemical and biological warfare capabilities. Intelligence reports indicate that he is seeking nuclear weapons ..." Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W. Va.), Oct. 3, 2002.
"I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force - if necessary - to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security." Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), Oct. 9, 2002.
"There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years ... We also should remember we have always underestimated the progress Saddam has made in development of weapons of mass destruction." Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.), Oct 10, 2002.
"He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant U.N. resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do." Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Oct. 10, 2002.
"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members ... It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons." Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Oct 10, 2002.
"We are in possession of what I think to be compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein has, and has had for a number of years, a developing capacity for the production and storage of weapons of mass destruction." Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.), Dec. 8, 2002.
Without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime ... He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation ... And now he is miscalculating America's response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction ... So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real ..." Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), Jan. 23. 2003.
I bet lots of those current war detractors who are claiming that W misled us are wishing they hadn't made those flowery statements about Iraq, Saddam, WMD, biological, chemical, nuclear, blah, blah, blah.
But the fact is, they did.
And now they seem to ignore all that and blame it all on W.
To be sure, W misled us and the buck does stop at his desk. After all, he is the president.
But when it comes to Iraq, the hallowed halls of Washington, D.C., are littered with serial misleaders.
