Bill Bennett: “as I go out among my constituents, the one question I always get asked in these present times is: Are we going to go to…”

“as I go out among my constituents, the one question I always get asked in these present times is: Are we going to go to war with Iraq? For a while my answer was, that is up to Saddam Hussein. It depends on how he acts and what he does, as to whether or not we are going to go to war with Iraq. But what he does now is fairly clear. The position he has taken is fairly clear. He made the comment to an Egyptian journalist, that has been repeated now around the world: Time is working for us. He has made it clear that he is not going to change. There will be no disarmament of Iraq from within. There will be no genuine cooperation with the inspectors. So I think my earlier answer probably is no longer correct. The decision now lies with President Bush: Will we go to war or won't we? In that circumstance, the President is being bombarded on all sides with editorial comment and punditry, with firm, solid recommendations, yes and no, depending on the ideological status of the particular pundit. They can make those firm recommendations from the safe, secure position of knowing that they will not have to be acted upon and that they will not be held accountable if their recommendation is followed and the result is not successful. The President faces what is clearly the most agonizing and difficult decision of his Presidency. I pray for him and urge other Americans to pray for him as he makes this decision. I want to lay down what I see as the challenge here.”