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During the 1990s, neoconservatives were once again in the opposition side of the foreign policy establishment, both under the Republican Administration of President [[George H. W. Bush]] and that of his Democratic successor, President [[Bill Clinton]]. Many critics charged that the neoconservatives lost their ''[[Wiktionary:raison d'être|raison d'être]]'' and influence following the collapse of the Soviet Union.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Others argue that they lost their status due to their association with the [[Iran-Contra scandal]] during the Reagan Administration.

During the 1990s, neoconservatives were once again in the opposition side of the foreign policy establishment, both under the Republican Administration of President [[George H. W. Bush]] and that of his Democratic successor, President [[Bill Clinton]]. Many critics charged that the neoconservatives lost their ''[[Wiktionary:raison d'être|raison d'être]]'' and influence following the collapse of the Soviet Union.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Others argue that they lost their status due to their association with the [[Iran-Contra scandal]] during the Reagan Administration.

Neoconservative writers were critical of the post-[[Cold War]] foreign policy of both George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, which they criticized for reducing military expenditures and lacking a sense of idealism in the promotion of American interests. They accused these Administrations of lacking both "[[moral clarity]]" and the conviction to pursue unilaterally America's international strategic interests.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

Neoconservative writers were critical of the post-[[Cold War]] foreign policy of both George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, which they criticized for reducing military expenditures and lacking a sense of idealism in the promotion of American interests. They accused these Administrations of lacking both "[[moral clarity]]" and the conviction to pursue unilaterally America's international strategic interests.

Particularly galvanizing to the movement was the decision of George H. W. Bush and then-[[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] General [[Colin Powell]] to leave [[Saddam Hussein]] in power after the first [[Gulf War]] in 1991. Some neoconservatives viewed this policy, and the decision not to support indigenous dissident groups such as the [[Kurds]] and [[Shiites]] in their [[1991 uprisings in Iraq|1991-1992 resistance]] to Hussein, as a betrayal of democratic principles.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

Particularly galvanizing to the movement was the decision of George H. W. Bush and then-[[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]] General [[Colin Powell]] to leave [[Saddam Hussein]] in power after the first [[Gulf War]] in 1991. Some neoconservatives viewed this policy, and the decision not to support indigenous dissident groups such as the [[Kurds]] and [[Shiites]] in their [[1991 uprisings in Iraq|1991-1992 resistance]] to Hussein, as a betrayal of democratic principles.

Ironically, some of those same targets of criticism would later become fierce advocates of neoconservative policies. In 1992, referring to the first [[Gulf War]], then [[United States Secretary of Defense]] and future [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] Dick Cheney, said:

Ironically, some of those same targets of criticism would later become fierce advocates of neoconservative policies. In 1992, referring to the first [[Gulf War]], then [[United States Secretary of Defense]] and future [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] Dick Cheney, said: