The following excerpt is from an essay written in November of 2002, four months before the US invaded Iraq:

"A number of very serious concerns need to be addressed about how, or even if, a military overthrow of the Saddam regime will meet our goals for Iraq or for the Middle East. In all the media coverage of this new war, the Bush administration has failed to provide the public with any clear idea of what will happen after an invasion. They show no sign that they have even considered consequences that likely would go directly against the goals they aim to achieve. Evidence suggests that establishing a favorable balance of power within Iraq will take much more time and money than the US is prepared to give, and that the long-term result of its actions will only perpetuate terrorism against the West."

This essay was written by me, at the time a 21-year-old college student, using references accessible to any American.

Hillary Clinton voted to allow President Bush to authorize an invasion of Iraq. I see two possible explanations for this. The first: she was too unconcerned to spend a few hours researching Iraq and its recent history before deciding whether to vote in favor of a unilateral invasion, paid for and executed by the citizens they represent. Had she done this, I am confident they would have noted the same concerns that I noted above, and at the very least asked questions of the administration that were never asked. The second: she did do this research. And noted the same concerns I noted above. And, despite being aware of the likely consequences, voted to allow this war to happen.

I do not know which of these two possibilities I find more frightening. Either through ignorance or political expediency, Hillary Clinton actively allowed this war to happen without asking several obvious questions.

I ask that the Nevadans who will caucus today not ignore this inexcusable failure in leadership as they decide who to support.