Home>News Center>World
         
 

Bill Clinton calls Iraq war 'big mistake'
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-17 09:02

Former US President Clinton told Arab students Wednesday the United States made a "big mistake" when it invaded Iraq, stoking the partisan debate back home over the war.

Clinton cited the lack of planning for what would happen after Saddam Hussein was overthrown.

"Saddam is gone. It's a good thing, but I don't agree with what was done," Clinton told students at a forum at the American University of Dubai.

"It was a big mistake. The American government made several errors ... one of which is how easy it would be to get rid of Saddam and how hard it would be to unite the country."

Clinton's remarks came when he was taking questions about the U.S. invasion, which began in 2003. His response drew cheers and a standing ovation at the end of the hour-long session.

Clinton said the United States had done some good things in Iraq: the removal of Saddam, the ratification of a new constitution and the holding of parliamentary elections.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, acknowledges the students of the American University Dubai, during his visit to mark the 10 anniversary celebration of AUD, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005. (AP
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton acknowledges the students of the American University Dubai, during his visit to mark the 10 anniversary celebration of AUD, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005. [AP]
"The mistake that they made is that when they kicked out Saddam, they decided to dismantle the whole authority structure of Iraq. ... We never sent enough troops and didn't have enough troops to control or seal the borders," Clinton said.

As the borders were unsealed, "the terrorists came in," he said.

Clinton said it would have been better if the United States had left Iraq's "fundamental military and social and police structure intact."

Democrats are accusing President Bush of having misled the American public about the urgency of the Iraqi threat before his order to invade, and Bush on Monday threw back at Democratic critics the worries they once expressed about Saddam.

"They spoke the truth then and they're speaking politics now," Bush charged.

On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld continued Bush's attack, citing the words of Clinton and others from his administration as saying Saddam was a security threat to the United States and its allies.

At a Pentagon news conference, Rumsfeld noted the Iraq Liberation Act that Congress passed in 1998 had said it should be U.S. government policy to support Saddam's removal from power. He noted that Clinton signed the act and ordered four days of bombing in December 1998.

Recent opinion polls show Bush as having the lowest approval rating of his presidency. In AP-Ipsos polling, a majority of Americans say Bush is not honest and they disapprove of his handling of foreign policy and the war on terrorism.



US Vice President attacks Iraq war critics
Shalom, Abbas meet at Tunis technology summit
Bolivian election
 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

China confirms its first human bird-flu cases

 

   
 

ROK grants China market-economy status

 

   
 

Don't hinder official's trip, Taipei told

 

   
 

Bush: US supports 'one-China' policy

 

   
 

Traders face fines for alcohol sales to minors

 

   
 

US senate delays vote on China currency bill

 

   
  Iraq says abused detainees from all sects
   
  Woodward claim on CIA leak disputes charge
   
  Iraqi TV: Court workers attacked Saddam
   
  Bush, Roh to discuss way forward on North Korea
   
  Bus-tanker crash in Mexico kills 38
   
  Concern widens in Europe over CIA prisoner flights
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Six more US service members die in Iraq
   
Iraq says abused detainees from all sects
   
US, Iraqi forces kill 30 guerrillas
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Manufacturers, Exporters, Wholesalers - Global trade starts here.
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 欧美一级视频在线高清观看| 色一情一乱一伦一视频免费看| 天天摸天天舔天天操| 久久久久久久99精品国产片 | 欧美日韩国产三级| 伊人久久无码中文字幕| 精品日韩二区三区精品视频| 国产亚洲精久久久久久无码77777| 国产曰批免费视频播放免费s | JIZZYOU中国少妇| 巨龙征母全文王雪琴笔趣阁| 中文无线乱码二三四区| 日本理论在线看片| 久草视频在线网| 欧洲美女与动性zozozo| 亚洲国产精品自产在线播放 | 国产成人精品亚洲精品| 69堂国产成人精品视频不卡| 国产精品深夜福利免费观看| 92国产精品午夜福利免费| 大象视频在线免费观看| japmassage日本按摩| 嫩模bbw搡bbbb搡bbbb| 三级网站免费观看| 成年人黄色毛片| 中文精品久久久久国产网址 | 成人午夜精品无码区久久| 中文字幕第2页| 无码免费一区二区三区免费播放| 久久国产免费福利永久| 日韩三级中文字幕| 久久精品国产99久久99久久久| 最近高清中文在线字幕在线观看| 亚洲中文字幕在线无码一区二区| 欧美亚洲国产精品久久高清| 亚洲欧洲日本精品| av区无码字幕中文色| 日本换爱交换乱理伦片| 久久国产免费一区二区三区| 日本成人在线网站| 午夜精品不卡电影在线观看|