Senator Cleland: Flip-flopping on Saddam?

Is Senator Max Cleland, who is running campaign ads saying he “supports the President on Iraq,” flip-flopping during his re-election bid? Not long ago, he ripped the idea of militarily overthrowing Saddam Hussein. It was “disturbing,” he said.

The Georgia senator staked out his position on Iraq during the June 5, 2001 confirmation hearing of Douglas J. Feith as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Cleland assailed Feith, former Chairman of the Center for Securitiy Policy, on a number of fronts. But it was Feith’s advocacy of liberating Iraq from Saddam Hussein that was “the most disturbing answer of all” and “disturbs me greatly.” Here’s the text:

Senator Cleland: “In terms of Iraq, do you still favor a strategy of supporting the Iraqi opposition, including protection by the United States Air Force and necessary U.S. ground troops? Do you think we ought to go into Iraq with United States ground troops?”

Douglas Feith: “United States policy on Iraq, Senator, is now being looked at. The United States has a strong interest, which I know is shared widely on this committee and throughout the Congress, in facilitating as best we can the liberation of Iraq. The exact means that are most appropriate at the moment are the subject of review right now.”

Senator Cleland: “Well, that’s the most disturbing answer of all.”

He didn’t seem interested in the “exact means” being considered, and didn’t ask Feith to explain. Instead, Cleland pounced on Feith, giving a stock one-liner that the senator seemed to have been wanting to use throughout the hearing: “As someody who was committed to a ground force effort in Vietnam with no particular strategy for winning and no particular exit strategy, your answer disturbs me greatly.” Cleland then announced he was finished, and left the room.

Why, when President Bush was trying to staff the Pentagon with people who shared his worldview, was Senator Cleland upset with the very idea of removing Saddam Hussein by force – while today, Cleland embraces the plan?