Clinton launches withering attack on Bush on Iraq, Katrina, budget

[Thiebear]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050918/wl_afp/usweatheriraqeconomy_050918200308

He got to enjoy the quiet of the before and after and has just lost all sense..

I bet Bush1 was Dying to jump in during Clintons years.. They even asked Barbara and Laura questions about Hillary and Clinton that they didnt answer....

You expect it from Carter cause he's really old... and he was never all there to begin with, but William knows what he's doing...

Whats worse is he's criticizing him without really doing a good job of it.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton sharply criticised George W. Bush for the Iraq War and the handling of Hurricane Katrina, and voiced alarm at the swelling US budget deficit.

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Breaking with tradition under which US presidents mute criticisms of their successors, Clinton said the Bush administration had decided to invade Iraq "virtually alone and before UN inspections were completed, with no real urgency, no evidence that there were weapons of mass destruction."

The Iraq war diverted US attention from the war on terrorism "and undermined the support that we might have had," Bush said in an interview with an ABC's "This Week" programme.

Clinton said there had been a "heroic but so far unsuccessful" effort to put together an constitution that would be universally supported in Iraq.

The US strategy of trying to develop the Iraqi military and police so that they can cope without US support "I think is the best strategy. The problem is we may not have, in the short run, enough troops to do that," said Clinton.

On Hurricane Katrina, Clinton faulted the authorities' failure to evacuate New Orleans ahead of the storm's strike on August 29.

People with cars were able to heed the evacuation order, but many of those who were poor, disabled or elderly were left behind.

"If we really wanted to do it right, we would have had lots of buses lined up to take them out," Clinton.

He agreed that some responsibility for this lay with the local and state authorities, but pointed the finger, without naming him, at the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA boss Michael Brown quit in response to criticism of his handling of the Katrina disaster. He was viewed as a political appointee with no experience of disaster management or dealing with government officials.

"When James Lee Witt ran FEMA, because he had been both a local official and a federal official, he was always there early, and we always thought about that," Clinton said, referring to FEMA's head during his 1993-2001 presidency.

"But both of us came out of environments with a disproportionate number of poor people."

On the US budget, Clinton warned that the federal deficit may be coming untenable, driven by foreign wars, the post-hurricane recovery programme and tax cuts that benefitted just the richest one percent of the US population, himself included.

"What Americans need to understand is that ... every single day of the year, our government goes into the market and borrows money from other countries to finance Iraq, Afghanistan, Katrina, and our tax cuts," he said.

"We have never done this before. Never in the history of our republic have we ever financed a conflict, military conflict, by borrowing money from somewhere else."

Clinton added: "We depend on Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Korea primarily to basically loan us money every day of the year to cover my tax cut and these conflicts and Katrina. I don't think it makes any sense."

You don't have to take the cut Bill...

[Destino]

OMG a democrat is delivering democratic talking points. Will the wonders never cease?

[Thiebear]

Its a wonder when its the President...

That exclusive club is supposed to be tight....

[NavyDave]

Guess after his buddy from England shot down the idea of England signing the Kyoto treaty he had to do something.

Hey I have to respect what he says especially when he was successful during his administration:

Ending the cold war?

No

Tearing down that wall?

No

Retaliating for the bombings of the khobar towers, the USS Cole, the us embassies

No

Well he did sue big tobacco and big computer

Maybe he could help the situation by calling out the dems and gop to take out the pork in the highway bill and the farm bill.

[Cdowwe]

lol how would he end the cold war when it was over, and tear down the wall when it was already down.

[chomerics]

Guess after his buddy from England shot down the idea of England signing the Kyoto treaty he had to do something.

Still listening to Rush I see.. this is exactly what he was talking about on Friday

Bear, Clinton was talking about the 4 tax cuts people in the top 1% bracket got. So when he was saying "to cover MY tax cut" he was talking about the Bush tax cut he was the benificiary of because of his income, not a tax cut he put in place.

[Thiebear]

I understand what he was saying... and like him, you could give it back.. I'm sure the Country would be better off if you just gave them 70% of you income and not accept any back in return....

[Sarge]

Breaking with tradition under which US presidents mute criticisms of their successors

Breaking more ground in classlessness

The Iraq war diverted US attention from the war on terrorism

Well Bubba, if we hadn't had the ,military cut in half during your run, we could probably still handle a "Two war scenerio"

The US strategy of trying to develop the Iraqi military and police so that they can cope without US support "I think is the best strategy. The problem is we may not have, in the short run, enough troops to do that," said Clinton.

Wonder where all those troops went, Bubba?

"If we really wanted to do it right, we would have had lots of buses lined up to take them out," Clinton.

On the US budget, Clinton warned that the federal deficit may be coming untenable, driven by foreign wars, the post-hurricane recovery programme and tax cuts that benefitted just the richest one percent of the US population, himself included.

Hey Bubba, how 'bout a nice cup of shut the fu(k up?

So, ho much did you give to the Katrina cleanup, Mr Ex?

"We have never done this before. Never in the history of our republic have we ever financed a conflict, military conflict, by borrowing money from somewhere else."

Bubba obviously didn't pay attention in school

I guess this is what you get when you're running for UN president :doh:

[Predicto]

double post

[Predicto]

I understand what he was saying... and like him, you could give it back.. I'm sure the Country would be better off if you just gave them 70% of you income and not accept any back in return....

That argument is always baloney. The question of whether a tax cut is bad for the country has nothing to do with whether a single person "gives it back," nor is that person's opinion in anyway contradicted or lessened because they did not "give it back." It is a major red herring.

[Predicto]

lol how would he end the cold war when it was over, and tear down the wall when it was already down.

Wow Navy Dave, you even out-righted Cdowwe! :laugh:

[ccsl2]

Don't shoot the messenger...instead here is a novel idea, deal with the message that was presented...the message is that we are too busy spending $$$$ overseas when we have bigger problems in the US that we can't even handle...so instead we borrow money from other countries to fund Iraq...Makes real good sense (sarcastic)

[Sarge]

Don't shoot the messenger...instead here is a novel idea, deal with the message that was presented...the message is that we are too busy spending $$$$ overseas when we have bigger problems in the US that we can't even handle...so instead we borrow money from other countries to fund Iraq...Makes real good sense (sarcastic)

Just stop all foreign aid. There's an instant 20 billion

[Kilmer17]

Just stop all foreign aid. There's an instant 20 billion

20 billion? I think it's closer to 200 billion.

And for the record, I'd support it.

[SkinsHokieFan]

Just stop all foreign aid. There's an instant 20 billion

Even to Isreal?

[Sarge]

Even to Isreal?

If they keep selling our military tech to China, yep.

[Sarge]

20 billion? I think it's closer to 200 billion.

And for the record, I'd support it.

80 billion in 2004. My bad

[Larry]

Anybody think this just might be a sign that, shall we say, The Clinton Family might be trying to get some name recognition among their base?

[Sarge]

LIke I said, he's running for UN chief

Just confirms my belief that bill clinton is indeed the anti-Christ

[Thiebear]

That argument is always baloney. The question of whether a tax cut is bad for the country has nothing to do with whether a single person "gives it back," nor is that person's opinion in anyway contradicted or lessened because they did not "give it back." It is a major red herring.

But if "YOU" are the one getting it and complaining about it, the "VERY" least you can do is show the rest by living up to your own standards.. Or at least giving a comprehensive reasoning for WHY giving it back would be better using history as an example...

[Mad Mike]

From the 9/11 report: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/

"We must then ask when the U.S. government had reasonable opportunities to mobilize the country for major action against al Qaeda and its Afghan sanctuary. The main opportunities came after the new information the U.S. government received in 1996–1997, after the embassy bombings of August 1998, after the discoveries of the Jordanian and Ressam plots in late 1999, and after the attack on the USS Cole in October 2000."

From bin Laden's Declaration of Jihad: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/terrorism/international/fatwa_1996.html

"Few days ago the news agencies had reported that the Defense Secretary of the Crusading Americans had said that "the explosion at Riyadh and Al-Khobar had taught him one lesson: that is not to withdraw when attacked by coward terrorists".

We say to the Defence Secretary that his talk can induce a grieving mother to laughter! and shows the fears that had enshrined you all. Where was this false courage of yours when the explosion in Beirut took place on 1983 AD (1403 A.H). You were turned into scattered pits and pieces at that time; 241 mainly marines solders were killed. And where was this courage of yours when two explosions made you to leave Aden in less than twenty four hours!

But your most disgraceful case was in Somalia; where- after vigorous propaganda about the power of the USA and its post cold war leadership of the new world order- you moved tens of thousands of international force, including twenty eight thousands American solders into Somalia. However, when tens of your solders were killed in minor battles and one American Pilot was dragged in the streets of Mogadishu you left the area carrying disappointment, humiliation, defeat and your dead with you. Clinton appeared in front of the whole world threatening and promising revenge, but these threats were merely a preparation for withdrawal. You have been disgraced by Allah and you withdrew; the extent of your impotence and weaknesses became very clear. It was a pleasure for the "heart" of every Muslim and a remedy to the "chests" of believing nations to see you defeated in the three Islamic cities of Beirut, Aden and Mogadishu."

STFU Clinton.

[chomerics]

From the 9/11 report: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/911/

"We must then ask when the U.S. government had reasonable opportunities to mobilize the country for major action against al Qaeda and its Afghan sanctuary. The main opportunities came after the new information the U.S. government received in 1996–1997, after the embassy bombings of August 1998, after the discoveries of the Jordanian and Ressam plots in late 1999, and after the attack on the USS Cole in October 2000."

From bin Laden's Declaration of Jihad: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/terrorism/international/fatwa_1996.html

"Few days ago the news agencies had reported that the Defense Secretary of the Crusading Americans had said that "the explosion at Riyadh and Al-Khobar had taught him one lesson: that is not to withdraw when attacked by coward terrorists".

We say to the Defence Secretary that his talk can induce a grieving mother to laughter! and shows the fears that had enshrined you all. Where was this false courage of yours when the explosion in Beirut took place on 1983 AD (1403 A.H). You were turned into scattered pits and pieces at that time; 241 mainly marines solders were killed. And where was this courage of yours when two explosions made you to leave Aden in less than twenty four hours!

But your most disgraceful case was in Somalia; where- after vigorous propaganda about the power of the USA and its post cold war leadership of the new world order- you moved tens of thousands of international force, including twenty eight thousands American solders into Somalia. However, when tens of your solders were killed in minor battles and one American Pilot was dragged in the streets of Mogadishu you left the area carrying disappointment, humiliation, defeat and your dead with you. Clinton appeared in front of the whole world threatening and promising revenge, but these threats were merely a preparation for withdrawal. You have been disgraced by Allah and you withdrew; the extent of your impotence and weaknesses became very clear. It was a pleasure for the "heart" of every Muslim and a remedy to the "chests" of believing nations to see you defeated in the three Islamic cities of Beirut, Aden and Mogadishu."

STFU Clinton.

:koolaid:

Still trying to blame 9-11 on the person who was not in office :insane:

Bear, I am already giving back MORE then my tax refund to help, so you should go talk to some of the other people.

Sarge, give it a rest, what a novel idea for a democrat, PAY FOR SOMETHING. I know it's hard to imagine that we, as a nation, have to actually pay for crap we spend, but at least we understand what a budget is. All I have seen is the destruction and dismantling of our surplus to a record deficit in a matter of 2 years. Pork at never seen levels, needless and useless military programs like the defense shield, right there you have $20billion dollars, and I could think of a few other areas that could be cut as well.

But as a citizen of our country, I do not want to be stuck with the bill these neo-cons are pushing on my generation. WE are the ones that will have to pay for their government contracts and pork spending, WE are the ones that will have to suffer. You, of course, have no problem with government spending, as long as it is a republican spending the money. I on the other hand have a problem will ALL wasteful spending, republican or democrat. Fiscal frugality is the way government works, but the republicans have shown clearly they know nothing about fiscal responsibility, instead only spending like drunken sailors and not paying for it. I have a problem with this, as well should all Americans.

[Mad Mike]

:rotflmao: @ chom :laugh:

[chomerics]

:rotflmao: @ chom :laugh:

Yep, I love how you think it is appropriate to post something not even remotely related to the topic at hand, then procede to laugh at people when they bring up facts you can't dispute. Face it, Clinton wasn't in office for 9-11, he wasn't in office for Iraq, and he wasn't in office for Katrina. At this point, you're propensity to blame Clinton for the fact that our leader is a bumbling baffoon who could screw up a one car funeral is outright ludicrous.

[Mad Mike]

Yep, I love how you think it is appropriate to post something not even remotely related to the topic at hand, then procede to laugh at people when they bring up facts you can't dispute. Face it, Clinton wasn't in office for 9-11, he wasn't in office for Iraq, and he wasn't in office for Katrina. At this point, you're propensity to blame Clinton for the fact that our leader is a bumbling baffoon who could screw up a one car funeral is outright ludicrous.

Whatever dude. You're just a joke to me anyway. :laugh: