Edwards Backs Iraq War, Not Its Commander in Chief
Sun April 6, 2003 09:07 PM ET
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards on Sunday called both the war with Iraq and his campaign to unseat President Bush, the Commander in Chief prosecuting that war, a "just cause."
Edwards, a first-term United States Senator from North Carolina, opened a late afternoon forum by saying Democrats have to show voters they're tougher than the Republicans.
"We will take this fight right to and at George W. Bush. This is a just cause," Edwards said. "We have to show that we will fight every step of the way. ... I will cede nothing to him on any issue in any part of the country."
Edwards was the first of nine democratic presidential candidates to appear at monthly "Hear it from the Heartland" forums around Iowa sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat who has said he doesn't plan to endorse a candidate.
The two men, dressed in suit and tie, stood and strolled with microphones in hand as a crowd of about 300 listened.
Edwards spoke for nearly 20 minutes about other issues before he addressed the topic of the war with Iraq.
"You need to hear it directly from me. I believe in this cause. I believe we're doing the right thing in Iraq. I know there are a lot of you who will disagree with that," Edwards said as a few members of the crowd applauded.
Saddam Hussein is a "sadistic, brutal dictator" who can not be allowed to obtain nuclear weaponry so he could dominate the Arab world, Edwards said.
"I believe it is the right and just thing to do," Edwards said of the war in Iraq. "It has been my position for a long time. It is still my position. I stand behind it."
Edwards said the war aims must include reconstructing post-war Iraq so its citizens can succeed economically. And he said U.S. policymakers must stress that the oil fields in Iraq belong to the people of that country, and any profits from oil sales will go directly to the Iraqis.
"There is no question anywhere in the world that we are powerful," Edwards said. "They know we can do anything we want whenever we choose to. Here's what they want to know: Do we care about anybody besides ourselves?
"Do we care about the peace and prosperity of the rest of the world?"
During an hour-long question-and-answer session, Edwards was asked mostly about education and economic issues. Just one audience member, Chet Guinn of Des Moines, focused on the war, asking Edwards whether he'd cut military spending or seek to reduce the number of weapons available to the military.
"On this issue, I think you and I disagree," Edwards told Guinn. "I think it is very important for us to maintain our strength, because that strength ... can be used as a tool for a lot of good. We can promote human rights. We can promote freedom. We can promote democracy."
Guinn, a 74-year-old retired Methodist minister, said afterward he would "absolutely not" support Edwards' bid for the White House.
"My candidate is going to have to oppose Bush on the war," Guinn said. Edwards is an attorney, he noted, "and he says he is convinced that we ought to be at war. I have not seen any evidence that would hold up in court that we have a right to go into that country. It's absolutely wrong."
Before the forum started, just three peace protesters stood outside the event hall holding anti-war posters.
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