"Well, I can understand the theory of wanting to free people . . I just don't think we should go hellfire damnation around the globe freeing people, unless it is directly related to our own national security."
-- Former president Gerald R. Ford, 2004
In an embargoed interview in July of 2004, Gerald Ford was referring to one of George Bush's several justifications for the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
The former president was critical of Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld.
Bob Woodward reports that Ford said that "the Iraq war was not justified."
Ford agreed that "his comments could be published any time after his death." Audio excerpts from the interview are available at the WaPo link above.
Photo via Wapo link above: President Gerald R. Ford, center, with Chief of Staff Donald H. Rumsfeld, left, and Rumsfeld's assistant, Dick Cheney, on April 28, 1975. (By David Hume Kennerly -- Ford Library Via Associated Press)
Gerald Ford Politics Rumsfeld News Cheney Bush Iraq War Republicans
