Not Your Sweetie

Helen Thomas: Why is a Family Grudge Part of the US Policy?


Q Why is a family grudge included in the official paper that states our position on war
and peace?

MR. FLEISCHER: Helen, if you're referring to an attempt to assassinate a former
United States President, which Iraq tried to do when former President Bush went to
Kuwait --

Q Does that justify killing thousands of people in Iraq?

MR. FLEISCHER: Helen, I think it's also why former President Clinton responded to
that assassination attempt with four days of Cruise missile strikes against Iraq,
because an attempt to assassinate a former United States President --

Q So this is a repetition to try again, for that reason?

MR. FLEISCHER: I think the President cited multiple reasons why Saddam Hussein is
a menace and a threat.

Q But you people are acting like this is a conversion to democracy by the sword. How
can you -- I mean, are you going to kill all these people, to get democracy?