When asked about the 500,000 Dead Iraqi children, why did the Clinton admin say "it was worth it"?

Question

and why do liberals constantly defend this statement?

Lesley Stahl on U.S. sanctions against Iraq: We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price is worth it.

--60 Minutes (5/12/96)

Answer 1

In Bill Clinton's mind I'm sure it was worth it.
His primary goal as president was to be popular. Ignoring the trouble in Iraq during the 90's helped his approval numbers significantly.

It was the same story in Rwanda.

Answer 2

No need to defend "political sound bites" when actions speak louder than words...

"The reality on the ground in Iraq is not contested. Thousands of innocent children and adult civilians die every month as a direct result of the 1991 bombing of civilian infrastructure: sewage treatment plants, electrical generating plants, water purification facilities. Allied bombing targets included eight multipurpose dams, repeatedly hit, which simultaneously wrecked flood control, municipal and industrial water storage, irrigation and hydroelectric power. [Four of seven major pumping stations were destroyed, as were 31 municipal water and sewerage facilities. Water purification plants were incapacitated throughout Iraq. We did this for "long term leverage." These military decisions were sanctioned by then Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney.]

Answer 3

he didn't
it's was M. Albright.

because the sanctions were better than doing something really stupid like going to war and then occupying the country maybe ?

if you want a real answer you should look into this a little.

and No we almost Never defend that statement.

Answer 4

Some Arabs got on some plans with wire cutters and drove those planes into buildings just to prove a point. The shock of these persons attitudes initially led them to be called terrorists. So now for almost eight years it gives someone the right to bomb one country! I do not believe they have a credible army if they use wire cutters and were even associated with this act directly.
Alot needs to be done with the American attitudes and Arab atitudes but it needs to be done in a manner that contributes to growth and stability for the general population of the world not just you and I. The war in Iraq is not going to be justified unless it is now reconstructed to a humanitarian level.This method to change the minds of persons who have nothing to lose and would prefer death to democracy since they see how the US deals with democracy and how our morals are misguided at times. Did they really say that?

Answer 5

Before we beat ourselves up over a non-event, see the actual newspaper article linked below regarding the "500,000 Dead Iraqi Children."

Answer 6

It was worth it to Clinton because he was getting off on Miss Lewinsky at the time.

Answer 7

Hypocritical playboy-wannabe.

Answer 8

it's the hypocratic oath of politics..."First to do harm gets to make those who do harm now feel bad"

Answer 9

It's called being a hypocrite..

Answer 10

they would back clinton if he murdered the pope