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Pentagonâs Wolfowitz Defends War in Iraq
Associated PressWUERZBURG, Germany (AP) - The United States was justified in going to war against Iraq because Saddam Hussein violated U.N. resolutions ordering him to disarm, the Pentagonâs second-in-command said Saturday. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said flawed intelligence about Iraqâs weapons of mass destruction should be investigated, but the inability of inspectors to find such weapons did not mean the war was unnecessary. Sure wish Wolfie had been banging this drum before the war. "You have to make decisions based on the intelligence you have, not on the intelligence you can discover later," Wolfowitz said, while visiting the headquarters of the Armyâs 1st Infantry Division. Wolfowitz said he retains confidence in American intelligence agencies, despite their apparent mistakes about Iraqâs weapons programs. "You need to look into when you got it right, and when you got it wrong," Wolfowitz said. "Itâs important to understand we could not possibly do what we need to do in the world without intelligence." Problem is, only the insiders remember when you get it right. Wolfowitz said deposing Saddam was important to bring freedom to the Middle East. "We have an absolutely important job to do to help the Iraqi people build a free and democratic Iraq," Wolfowitz said. "Itâs going to be a very important turning point in the war on terrorism. The Middle East has been heading down the wrong road for some years now." Keep beating that drum too! Earlier Saturday, Wolfowitz met with troops and their families. Soldiersâ spouses complained that American troops need time to rest between their frequent missions. Bonnie McCarty said her husband is preparing for a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq. "When he comes back, does this mean in another year heâs going to go back again because the size of the Army isnât big enough?" McCarty asked Wolfowitz. "We donât want to keep going through this." A reasonable question. Wolfowitz said the Army is considering an increase in the number of combat units to ease the strain. He said he and other Pentagon officials know that the last several years have been difficult for soldiers and their families and are trying to ease the strain. Wolfowitz said Pentagon officials are not sure, however, that permanently enlarging the Army is the answer. "Thereâs a big uncertainty about what weâre going to need in the future, " Wolfowitz said. They could move quickly to out-source a lot of less essential things, particularly state-side and in quiet spots. That would free up more people for combat and CCS spots. Posted by: Steve White 2004-02-01 |
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