” ‘The Clinton administration was totally risk averse’ on Iraq, Richard Perle, a leading Iraq hawk, would argue later. ‘They allowed Saddam over eight years to grow in strength. He was far stronger at the end of Clinton’s tenure than at the beginning.’ Perle made those assertions in July 2003, just about the time they were becoming laughable to those who understood the situation on the ground in Iraq.” [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Thomas E. Ricks, Fiasco, Page 20