From Past Presidents, the Language of Certainty in an Uncertain World

President Obama is taking to the primetime airways to make the case for military intervention in Syria. He joins many other presidents who have argued for military engagement abroad.

First, we start with Ronald Reagan in 1983. He talks about the strategic importance to the US of Lebanon.

Next up in Bill Clinton in 1999 on Kosovo. He says military action advanced the cause of peace. He also had to tell the American people just where Kosovo is located:

And finally, George W. Bush in 2003 on Iraq. He asserted that Saddam Hussein had given no evidence proving that he had destroyed his stockpiles of biological weapons.