Joe Biden's Vote for War

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76. GWB stated that he needed the resolution as leverage to get the UN to

pass a resolution for UN unrestricted inspections of Iraq for evidence of nuclear weapons development.

In fact HRC stated that when she made her statement on her vote, on the floor. She was voting to prevent a military strike in Iran, which was presented as the alternative to the resolution..

“Even though the resolution before the Senate is not as strong as I would like in requiring the diplomatic route first … I take the president at his word that he will try hard to pass a United Nations resolution and seek to avoid war, if possible. Because bipartisan support for this resolution makes success in the United Nations more likely and war less likely—and because a good faith effort by the United States, even if it fails, will bring more allies and legitimacy to our cause—I have concluded, after careful and serious consideration, that a vote for the resolution best serves the security of our nation. If we were to defeat this resolution or pass it with only a few Democrats, I am concerned that those who want to pretend this problem will go away with delay will oppose any United Nations resolution calling for unrestricted inspections.”

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/02/hillary-clinton-told-the-truth-about-her-iraq-war-vote.html

GWB went back on his word, did not go to the UN, and went straight to war.

To say that everyone "should have known" that GWB was going lie about this, just 3 months into his first term, is a symptom of "hindsight is 2020."


But what is interesting is that HRC acknowleged that a yes vote was a mistake, knowing what we know now about GWB's intentions and daddy issues with Saddam Hussein, but I have yet to hear regrets from any candidate who voted for these previous direct approval for military strikes in Iraq...

In 1998 Sanders voted in favor of the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, which said: "It should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime."

Later that same year, Sanders also backed a resolution that stated: "Congress reaffirms that it should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime."

Sanders also voted for the 2001 Authorization Unilateral Military Force Against Terrorists (AUMF), which pretty much allowed Bush to wage war wherever he wanted.

Authorization for Use of Military Force - Authorizes the President to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations, or persons.
States that this Act is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization within the meaning of the War Powers Resolution.

Perhaps you've heard him say that he regretted those votes? If you have, please share a link.