John Kerry
On the Iraq War
"Why is Saddam Hussein attempting to develop nuclear weapons when most nations don’t even try? ... According to intelligence, Iraq has chemical and biological weapons ... Iraq is developing unmanned aerial vehicles capable of delivering chemical and biological warfare agents ...”
"When I vote to give the President of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein, it is because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a threat, and a grave threat, to our security and that of our allies in the Persian Gulf region. I will vote yes because I believe it is the best way to hold Saddam Hussein accountable."(10/9/2002, Congressional Record, V. 148, Pt. 14, October 2, 2002 to October 9, 2002, P. 19701) [1]
"The threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but as I said, it is not new. It has been with us since the end of that war, and particularly in the last 4 years we know after Operation Desert Fox failed to force him to reaccept them, that he has continued to build those weapons. ...According to intelligence, Iraq has chemical and biological weapons as well as missiles with ranges in excess of the 150 kilometer restriction imposed by the United Nations in the ceasefire resolution."(10/9/2002, Iraq Speech in Congress Iraq War Vote) [2]
"I didn’t vote for the Iraq war. I voted to give the president authority that he misused and abused. And from the moment he used it, I opposed that.’" (2011) [[3]]
However, in 2003, Kerry was quoted as saying "I fear that in the run-up to the 2004 election the administration is considering what is tantamount to a cut-and-run strategy." [[4]]
Vote on authorization of force in Iraq
Kerry voted yes on the authorization of the use of force in Iraq. [[5]]