Clinton: Iraq Has Abused Its Final Chance

On December 16, 1998 President Bill Clinton launched an air strike and cruise missile attack against Iraq lasting a period of four days. While not giving an exact number, the Pentagon said more missiles were fired in the first two days of the campaign against Iraq than the 290 cruise missiles that were launched during the first Gulf War.
"Heavy as they are, the costs of action must be weighed against the price of inaction. If Saddam defies the world and we fail to respond, we will face a far greater threat in the future. Saddam will strike again at his neighbors. He will make war on his own people. And mark my words, he will develop weapons of mass destruction. He will deploy them, and he will use them. Because we're acting today, it is less likely that we will face these dangers in the future." - President Bill Clinton, December 16, 1998