Peter King: Kerry Backed Pre-emptive Iraq Attack in '97

During a 1997 debate on CNN's "Crossfire," Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry made the case for launching a pre-emptive attack against Iraq, according to Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who appeared with Kerry on the program.

King recounted the debate for WABC Radio's Monica Crowley on Saturday, recalling that at the time, the U.N. Security Council had just adopted a resolution against Iraq that had been watered down at the behest of the French and the Russians.

Back then, however, the candidate who now criticizes President Bush for ignoring French and Russian objections to the Iraq war, criticized the two countries – saying they were compromised by their business dealings with Baghdad.

According to King, Kerry argued: "We know we can't count on the French. We know we can't count on the Russians. We know that Iraq is a danger to the United States and we reserve the right to take pre-emptive action whenever we feel it's in our national interest."

"Crossfire" transcripts from 1997 are no longer available, but King said he'd share a copy of the Kerry tape with Crowley, who said she looked forward to broadcasting it. Stay tuned.

Listen to WABC Radio's Monica Crowley, weeknights 9 to 10 p.m. ET

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