The Iraq War Debate, 1997–2007
The Weekly Standard was among the most forceful advocates for confronting Saddam Hussein's Iraq, and later for the troop surge that reversed the war's course. This collection traces the magazine's arguments from the late Clinton years through the Bush administration — the case for intervention, the reckoning with failure, and the fight for the Petraeus strategy.
11 articles
- 1
SADDAM MUST Go
The Editors November 17, 1997The editors' early call for removing Saddam Hussein — four years before the invasion.
- 2
ATTACK IRAQ
The Editors March 2, 1998A harder editorial line following Iraqi defiance of weapons inspectors.
- 3
HOW TO ATTACK IRAQ
The Editors November 16, 1998Strategic case for regime change as the only stable outcome.
- 4
You Say You Want a Just War?
Joseph Bottum April 21, 2003Joseph Bottum's moral and theological case for the war, written as the invasion began.
- 5
Crush the Insurgents in Iraq
William Kristol May 24, 2004Kristol's response to the rising insurgency — arguing for more aggressive action rather than withdrawal.
- 6
Time for a Heavier Footprint
William Kristol November 27, 2006Kristol and Kagan argue the existing strategy is failing and more troops are the answer.
- 7
- 8
All We Are Saying . . .Is Give Petraeus a Chance
William Kristol January 29, 2007A direct rebuttal to MoveOn.org's 'General Betray Us' campaign — arguing the surge deserved time to work.
- 9
Keep on Surgin'
William Kristol July 23, 2007Mid-surge assessment: the strategy is working, don't abandon it.
- 10
The Turn
William Kristol August 13, 2007Evidence of genuine progress in Anbar province — the surge is turning the war around.
- 11
What Happened in 2003?
William Kristol December 17, 2007Kristol's year-end accounting of mistakes made and lessons learned — a rare note of self-criticism.