Another reason we went to war in Iraq:

Bill Clinton

…And so we had to act and act now.

Let me explain why.

First, without a strong inspection system, Iraq would be free to retain and begin to rebuild its chemical, biological andnuclear weapons programs in months, not years.

Second, if Saddam can crippled the weapons inspection system and get away with it, he would conclude that the international community led by the United States has simply lost its will. He will surmise that he has free rein to rebuild hisarsenal of destruction, and someday make no mistake he will use it again as he has in the past.

Third, in halting our air strikes in November, I gave Saddama chance, not a license. If we turn our backs on his defiance,the credibility of U.S. power as a check against Saddam will be destroyed. We will not only have allowed Saddam to shatter theinspection system that controls his weapons of mass destructionprogram; we also will have fatally undercut the fear of force that stops Saddam from acting to gain domination in the region.

That is why, on the unanimous recommendation of my national security team including the vice president, the secretary ofdefense, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, thesecretary of state and the national security adviser I haveordered a strong, sustained series of air strikes against Iraq.

They are designed to degrade Saddams capacity to develop anddeliver weapons of mass destruction, and to degrade his abilityto threaten his neighbors.

George Bush wasn’t the only president who believed Saddam had WMD’s or the potential to build the.