Editing Joseph Biden

==On the Iraq War==
Voted in 2002 to authorize the invasion of Iraq. In his floor speech at the time he claimed: “[Saddam Hussein] possesses chemical and biological weapons and is seeking nuclear weapons.” As then-chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he oversaw hearings which excluded former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter and other individuals who where highly critical of claims regarding Iraq’s alleged possessions of weapons of mass destruction. On Oct. 10, 2002, Biden gave a speech in favor of the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq: “I do not believe this is a rush to war. I believe it is a march to peace and security. I believe that failure to overwhelmingly support this resolution is likely to enhance the prospects that war will occur…. [Saddam Hussein] possesses chemical and biological weapons and is seeking nuclear weapons.” Biden stated he thought conflict may be long, but was still in favor of it: “We must be clear with the American people that we are committing to Iraq for the long haul; not just the day after, but the decade after…. I am absolutely confident the President will not take us to war alone.” [http://web.archive.org/web/20080819190045/http://authforce.liberatedtext.org/021010/cr10oc02-70_02.html]