Donald Trump Says He Always Opposed the Iraq War. That's a Lie.

Trump likes wars. He just doesn't like losing them.

Jason Keisling

Donald Trump is caught in an enormous lie—if that even matters anymore.

In recent interviews and debates, Trump has steadfastly maintained that he opposed the Iraq War from the beginning—that he knew something his more neoconservative Republican rivals did not. It would be to his credit, if it were true. But it's not.

In an interview with Howard Stern on September 11, 2002, Trump said that he supported a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, according to BuzzFeed News:

Stern asked Trump directly if he was for invading Iraq.

"Yeah I guess so," Trump responded. "I wish the first time it was done correctly."

That Trump would lie about this should come as no surprise. But it's also unsurprising that he is not quite the anti-interventionist he claims to be. While Trump may indeed be the least hawkish of the remaining GOP candidates, his occasionally sane foreign policy pronouncements don't come from a place of principled opposition to reckless foreign entanglements. Trump doesn't oppose wars: He opposes badly managed wars, where badly managed is synonymous with managed by someone other than Trump himself.

Trump says Presidents Bush and Obama were bad at their jobs—and he's right—but his smug confidence in his own ability to win all conflicts should give libertarians serious pause about his foreign policy. I suspect that Trump likes wars, after all—he just doesn't like losing them.

Comments

[__Warren__]

TRUMP DOESN'T LIE!!!!! YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NEW TRUTH!!!!!!

[Crusty Juggler]

if that even matters anymore

It does not. Bad.

My theory: Soave's hair is jealous of the attention Trump's hair gets, and forced him to write this.

[Crusty Juggler]

but his smug Alpha confidence in his own ability to win all conflicts

Truth.

[CPRM]

A Beta talks tough, like Trump. An Alpha knocks you out then takes a soma and has a threesome.

[Rhywun]

It's good to be a delta.

[CPRM]

the anti-interventionist he claims to be

Since when? He wants to attack ISIS oil, kill their relatives and them. "anti-interventionist"?

[Res ipsa loquitur]

Yea, but who doesn't ?

[Freedom Frog]

I always opposed the war in Iraq. Not a lie.

What do I win?

[egould310]

A 1978 Chevy Chevette?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Chevette

[Terc]

This man is going to cause Hillary Clinton to become our next president. Not that I want any of the other Repubs anyway. Argh. I say this every 4 years, but I really mean it this time. Worst election of my lifetime.

[Eman]

it's totally possible that you could be right every time. i might go as far as "unsurprising"

[0x90]

Ugh, not looking forward to the monotony that will set in once the race has settled down to Hillary & Cruz. To have to endure the two sides struggling, as they must do, to get themselves worked up over these two... three-hundred-million-odd people, and this is the choice with which up you end.

The democratic portion of the process should end with the primaries... the ultimate winner being decided by duel.

[CPRM]

I've already run for state assembly on a whim (I was too late and it had to be an official write-in) and the local LP never responded to me for support. But now my Congress district is being vacated. I'm just wondering what one has to do to declare officially for the congress? Does anyone know all the official rules?

[Thymirus]

Engage in rhetorical and literal fellatio of your future political superiors, succumb to the corruption such pursuit of power necessarily entails in a viable campaign, fabricate experiences to prove your suitability for your chosen office to the local electorate, and deceive your voters into supporting your ascendance to the Congress with false promises. Remember to feign fealty to their concerns.

[Skye Walker]

Depends on the state. I assume you would like to run for the LP?

[Thymirus]

Cruz has his flaws, but should Clinton emerge the victor in this election, I'll seriously have to consider alcoholism.

http://modifylifestyle.com/wp-.....olism3.jpg

[3]

Why wait?

[Tak Kak]

"Trump says Presidents Bush and Obama were bad at their jobs?and he's right?but his smug confidence in his own ability to win all conflicts should give libertarians serious pause about his foreign policy. I suspect that Trump likes wars, after all?he just doesn't like losing them."

So he's the least worst of the mainstream candidates?

[Tak Kak]

Of course it doesn't matter, but couldn't Trump just say he was against the way the Iraq War, as it was handled, from the beginning. Not against invading the country in itself.

[3]

Trump shown to be full of shit! In other news, water is wet. Full story at ten.

[GILMORE?]

"Full story at ten."

I shall not rest until everyone agrees that the proper expression is = "Film at 11", and everything else is a hideous mistake.

[Thymirus]

Meme elitist!

[Rhywun]

Popularized by Kentucky Fried Movie and Turkey WKRP - it really doesn't get any more authoritative than that, does it.

[Ken Shultz]

Jesus Christ, I'm sick of Trump.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORIIIIIIING!

Anybody that really wants to talk about Trump for the next four or eight years needs to have their head examined.

I'd rather talk about abortion every day for four years than Donald Trump.

Reading a thread about what Donald Trump thinks about abortion might makes people kill themselves.

[Thymirus]

Let's talk about hot girls and nice cars.

Here's a hot girl:

http://s10.postimg.org/7nauprbjd/1457.jpg

Here's a nice car:

http://s11.postimg.org/kmp5n68.....lenger.jpg

Better yet, that girl in that car would be even better.

Discuss.

[Res ipsa loquitur]

Your second link failed.......you are worse than Hitler.

[lulztopian]

so on the anniversary of 9/11 Trump gave a lukewarm answer. Man that's some compelling stuff right there.

Shall we look at what Reason's general tenor was at that time or nah?

[DJF]

I just took a quick look at Reason archives and it does not appear as though Reason was manning the anti-war barricades shouting STOP!!!!!

It does not look like Iraq even made the cover of the 2003 magazine, the closest is an article about "What is Next"

http://reason.com/covers/all

[DJF]

I also notice that the 2008 banker bailout does not seem to have hit the cover of the 2008 issues either.

[WhatAboutBob]

Reason has to get their hate on, so saying "Yeah I guess so" in one interview 14 years ago means Trump is an enormous liar. What's funny is that this plays into his strategy because it highlights his more dovish stance as opposed to the other GOP candidates.

[lap83]

I couldn't get past the Maury-esque headline

[Grand Moff Serious Man]

"Yeah I guess so," Trump responded. "I wish the first time it was done correctly."

Wow, you can just taste the jingoistic zeal in that answer!

I hate to defend Trump, but it's entirely likely he doesn't even remember saying that in 2003. But more importantly he came out against the war in 2004, which makes him smarter on this particular issues than literally everyone else running right now except Bernie.

This fees like cheap "gotcha!" journalism on a guy who clearly thrives on it.

[WhatAboutBob]

I agree. This are the kinds of articles that help Trump, not hurt him.

[Res ipsa loquitur]

Look, the only think Reason hates more than Trump is Rand !!!!

[annegreen]

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[annegreen]

My last pay check was $9500 working 12 hours a week online. My sisters friend has been averaging 15k for months now and she works about 20 hours a week. I can't believe how easy it was once I tried it out. This is what I do..
Clik This Link inYour Browser....

? ? ? ? http://www.workpost30.com

[Nick W B]

Look at my face. This is my surprised expression. See how shocked I am that Trump would lie?
Actually this has been known for some time (this specific claim being a lie, not that he lies in general). No one has been able to find his pre-Iraq war claims that he was against it. And there have been other statements he's been made which were vaguely in support of it (though they also sounded like he didn't really care about it as it didn't involve him).

[lukashik]

The technology is so developed that we can watch videos, live streaming, TV serials and any of our missed programs within our mobiles and PCs. Showbox
All we need is a mobile or PC with a very good internet connection. There are many applications by which we can enjoy videos, our missed programs, live streaming etc.