Bill Clinton: “College Station, Texas November 6, 1997 Iraq Q. President George Bush, have you given any advice--what advice do you…”

“College Station, Texas November 6, 1997 Iraq Q. President George Bush, have you given any advice--what advice do you have for President Clinton in dealing with Saddam Hussein in this latest standoff? And do you have any regrets? President George Bush. I agree with the President's stance of being firm with this man, and he's doing exactly the right thing. It is important that we have people with us in this, and it is important that the United Nations not waver one single bit. So I have no advice. Q. Do you regret that your administration didn't more aggressively try to depose Saddam Hussein? President Bush. In what way would I have deposed him? I'm not sure I understand the question. How depose him? Q. During the war, do you regret not being more aggressive in trying to take him out? President Bush. No, I have no regrets. The mission was to end the aggression, and we ended the aggression. We tried to do it peacefully without firing a shot. That failed the end of the aggression. His legions are defeated, and they cannot project the offensive force they once had. Now, if you're asking me if I'm happy he's still there, no. But for those that now say, ex post facto, we should go in and have killed him, then I would then ask the question, whose son, whose daughter would I ask to give their lives in a perhaps fruitless hunt in Baghdad, where we would have become an occupying power? I have no regrets.…”