A lot is said about Hillary Clinton's reluctant vote to give Bush authority to use force against Iraq, but we rarely get a glimpse at the struggle she went through in reaching a decision. This piece in Salon is obviously intended to mock her for her vote and later discussions about it, but unintentionally shows the sincerity and seriousness with which she approached the dilemma.
'"Even though the resolution before the Senate is not as strong as I would like in requiring the diplomatic route first and placing highest priority on a simple, clear requirement for unlimited inspections, I will take the president at his word that he will try hard to pass a U.N. resolution and will seek to avoid war, if at all possible.
"Because bipartisan support for this resolution makes success in the United Nations more likely and, therefore, 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 ...
"This is a very difficult vote. This is probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make ... but I cast it with conviction ...
I urge the president to spare no effort to secure a clear, unambiguous demand by the United Nations for unlimited inspections ... A vote for [the resolution] is not a vote to rush to war; it is a vote that puts awesome responsibility in the hands of our president and we say to him: Use these powers wisely and as a last resort." '
