"Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict, commenced at a time of our choosing. For their own safety, all foreign nationals -- including journalists and inspectors -- should leave Iraq immediately."
And then there was this from the 2000 election campaign:
“I think it’s also important for the president to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn.”
Again - when Clinton was in office, Bush favored timetables; and when Bush was telling Saddam to leave, he also favored a timetable.
And what about this reference to "inspectors"? Some of you may recall that Bush later claimed Saddam wouldn't allow inspectors into Iraq. Do you wonder who these inspectors are Bush is telling to leave? Bush's warning above telling the UN insepctors to leave Iraq flies in the face of a later statement by Bush in which he claims Saddam wouldn't allow inspectors into Iraq.
"The larger point is, and the fundamental question is, did Saddam Hussein have a weapons program? And the answer is, absolutely. And we gave him a chance to allow the inspectors in, and he wouldn't let them in."
