The Proper Place for Debate

Can anybody explain to me what positive purpose it serves our country for a former President of the United States to go abroad and tell university students that the United States made a “big mistake” by invading Iraq?

That’s what former President Bill Clinton told students at the American University of Dubai.

"Saddam is gone. It's a good thing, but I don't agree with what was done, " Clinton told students at the American University of Dubai.
"It was a big mistake. The American government made several errors ... one of which is how easy it would be to get rid of Saddam and how hard it would be to unite the country."

It’s fair for Clinton to hold this opinion. It’s acceptable to have this debate within the halls of Congress. It’s not acceptable to denigrate our own government before the eyes and ears of the world.

Sports teams have an unwritten rule: “What’s said in the locker room stays in the locker room.” In other words, players, teammates, and coaches can disagree with one another, but they don’t do it publicly (Unless, of course, it’s someone like Terrell Owens). Families have disagreements among themselves, but strong families keep it within the family; they work it out within the family.

That’s part of what united means. Debating U.S. policy with each other makes us stronger. Having that debate on the world stage weakens us. Bill Clinton doesn’t understand that, or doesn’t care.