For more than a year before the Iraq war began, the prospect was debated in America. Many elected leaders offered their own opinion on the floor of the House, or the Senate. But can these political opinions, opinions that would prove so important to the country's future, be reconciled with the view of current American political leaders? Would anybody recognize these speeches today? Here are excerpts of some of these speeches. The answers to who spoke what lie at the end.
First Speech on the Iraq War
"The bottom line is I don't trust the president and his advisers. Make no mistake, we are voting on a resolution that grants total authority to a president who wants to invade a sovereign nation without any specific act of provocation. This would authorize the United States to act as the aggressor for the first time in our history and it sets a precedent for our nation or any nation to exercise brute force anywhere in the world without regard to international law or international consensus. Congress must not walk in lock step behind a president who has been so callous to proceed without reservation as if the war was of no real consequence."
Second Speech on the Iraq War
"I rise in opposition to this resolution. The wisdom of the war is one issue, but the process and the philosophy behind our foreign policy are important issues as well. But I have come to the conclusion that I see no threat to our national security. There is no convincing evidence that Iraq is capable of threatening the security of this country, and, therefore, very little reason, if any, to pursue a war.
But I am very interested also in the process that we are pursuing. This is not a resolution to declare war. We know that. This is a resolution that does something much different. This resolution transfers the responsibility, the authority, and the power of the Congress to the President so he can declare war when and if he wants to. He has not even indicated that he wants to go to war or has to go to war; but he will make the full decision, not the Congress, not the people through the Congress of this country in that manner."
Third Speech on the Iraq War
"I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars.
So for those of us who seek a more just and secure world for our children, let us send a clear message to the president today.
You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s finish the fight with Bin Laden and Al Queda, through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that involves more than color-coded warnings."
Fourth Speech on the Iraq War
"So it is with conviction that I support this resolution as being in the best interests of our nation. A vote for it 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. And it is a vote that says clearly to Saddam Hussein - this is your last chance - disarm or be disarmed."
Answer Key
First Speech: California Representative Pete Stark. Second Speech: Texas Representative Ron Paul. Third Speech: then State Senator Barack Obama. Fourth Speech: then Senator Hillary Clinton.
Pete Stark is the only Atheist in Congress; Ron Paul, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton all ran for President in 2008.
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