Today, in a joint press conference with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Secretary of State Rice was asked about how many “mistakes” she believed the U.S. has made in Iraq. In answering, Rice admitted mistakes were made but also stressed an extremely important point that Republicans on Capitol Hill should also make as much as possible. Rice said:
Rice is right. The judgment to remove Saddam Hussein from power was the “right” strategic decision. Even so, Republicans, in the face of constant Democratic attacks about the Iraq war, have been far too defensive about the strategic necessity to topple Saddam. They hardly ever talk about it. For example, they don’t talk about what the Middle East would look like today with Saddam in power. They don’t talk about the Duelfer finding that Saddam was primed to pump out more wmd or that Saddam’s terrorist connection was deeper than the media lets on, including preparations for attacks in Europe. Some Democrats opposed the war from the start, while many others supported the war resolution but now “regret” their vote. Fine. Democrats believe we should have left Saddam in power and “contained” him. Republicans should aggressively engage them on their position, as Sen. McCain did a while back. “Our choice wasn’t between a benign status quo and the bloodshed of war,” he argued. “It was between war and a graver threat. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Not our critics abroad. Not our political opponents….” Republicans should explain to voters that leaving Saddam in place would have been the wrong strategic decision and that following the Democrats’ troop “redeployment plan” today would also be the wrong strategic decision. President Bush made the right call. Saddam is gone. Now we must finish the job — that’s the message. Let the debate begin.
