Reply #8: One believes in pre-emptive war or invasion, one does not. [View All]

[madfloridian]

You are correct that Dean does not/did not think we should pull out of Iraq and leave instability. However, he does not think this policy of pre-emption is right.

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0417-07.htm

SNIP..."Bush: It's Not Just His Doctrine That's Wrong
by Howard Dean

(Note: After reading a recent article that called into question my opposition to the Bush Doctrine of preemptive war, I wanted to state my position clearly to set the record straight. I appreciate that the editors of Common Dreams have given me this opportunity.)

When Congress approved the President’s authorization to go to war in Iraq – no matter how well-intentioned – it was giving the green light to the President to set his Doctrine of preemptive war in motion. It now appears that Iraq was just the first step. Already, the Bush Administration is apparently eyeing Syria and Iran as the next countries on its target list. The Bush Doctrine must be stopped here.

Many in Congress who voted for this resolution should have known better. On September 23, 2002, Al Gore cautioned in his speech in San Francisco that “if the Congress approves the Iraq resolution just proposed by the Administration it is simultaneously creating the precedent for preemptive action anywhere, anytime this or any future president so decides.” And that is why it was such a big mistake for Congress to allow the president to set this dangerous precedent.