Between Worlds, by Bill Richardson: on War & Peace

Voted against Kuwait war but later regretted it

[While negotiating in 1995 with Saddam for the release of two US oil workers arrested after getting lost near the Iraq border, I pointed out that], I did not vote for the Kuwait war, because I believed further diplomatic activity should have been pursued Later, when I became UN ambassador and had to deal with Saddam again, I realized that me congressional vote on the war had been a mistake. Seizing a neighboring country which happened to be a major oil exporter added up to a threat in my book. Source: Between Worlds, by Bill Richardson, p. 160-3 Feb 2, 2005

Iraq was single biggest issue as Clinton's UN ambassador

Secretary of State Albright had said that Iraq was the biggest issue for the administration during my tenure as UN ambassador. I needed to make sure that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan remained aligned with us. Second, I had to keep an eye on the UN Special Commission--UNSCOM--the weapons inspectorate established after the Gulf War.

Iraq accepted Resolution 687 three days after it was passed in 1991. Given that hundreds of thousands of US military were on his doorstep, Saddam had little choice. At first, inspections seemed to go according to plan. By Aug. 1991, Iraq was throwing up roadblocks. It failed to make full disclosure of its proscribed weapons & programs, which was a requirement of 687. It blocked the use of helicopters by inspectors. New resolutions were passed, their demands either ignored or compromised by Saddam.

Our resolution represented the will of the international community, but frankly, it did not matter much if we were not prepared to back it up.

Source: Between Worlds, by Bill Richardson, p.212-215 Nov 3, 2005

Negotiated with Taliban in 1998 to extradite Osama bin Laden

No cabinet-rank American had visited Afghanistan since 1974, and I was itching to give it my best shot.

Another part of the mission was not on anyone's radar. We wanted to persuade the Taliban to expel Osama bin Laden or extradite him to the US, where he was under indictment for complicity in the 1991 World Trade Center bombing.

My message was that there was a chance of US aid to help rebuild Afghanistan & gain broader international recognition, but not unless they made peace with their opposition. The Taliban agreed to talks.

On bin Laden, I struck out. His expulsion would do wonders for [Afghanistan]'s standing in the international community. I requested an audience with Mullah Mohammad Omar, the Taliban leader and the key to bin Laden. That would give me the opportunity to convey President Clinton's deep concern about Bin Laden's terrorist activities and his use of Taliban territory as a base. Later, on the evening news, NBC reported that bin Laden had threatened to kill me.

Source: Between Worlds, by Bill Richardson, p.225-229 Nov 3, 2005

*The above quotations are from Between Worlds: The Making of an American Life, by Bill Richardson, with Michael Ruby.* Click here for definitions & background information on War & Peace. Click here for more quotes by Bill Richardson on War & Peace.
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