Political Quotes

“in March of 2003, Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said: We are dealing with a country, Iraq, that can really finance its own reconstruction, and relatively soon. Well, I guess 3 years doesn't count as relatively soon. According to a new report by the Iraqi Special Inspector General, the Iraqi oil industry lost $16 billion because of violence, theft, and corruption. In fact, 3 years after Secretary Wolfowitz's confident predictions, Iraq is actually paying billions of dollars to import refined petroleum. Iraq is importing refined petroleum products. In the words of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, ``stuff happens.'' Maybe if this Congress had questioned Wolfowitz on his calculations a little closer, maybe if the President had given the commanders on the ground the troops they needed, maybe if this Congress had conducted and sought accountability into Iraq's reconstruction, we wouldn't be dealing with quite so much ``stuff.'' But I guess under Republican leadership, you end up with the leadership you have, not the one you want.”