17 December 1998
CONGRESS GIVES BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO U.S. AIR STRIKES
(Roundup of opinion on action against Iraq) (1270) Washington -- The U.S. Congress has given bipartisan support to the U.S.-British air strikes against Iraq. Following is a sampling of comments from Republican and Democratic representatives and senators. Senator Dick Lugar, Republican-Indiana: "Richard Butler's report yesterday effectively ended any lingering hope that a peaceful inspection and monitoring regime could be effective. Tonight was exactly the right time for the United States and Great Britain to commence military action. If we had failed to commence military action tonight, we would have no credibility in the second half of our Iraq policy. Saddam must go. Tonight is an important start." Representative Dick Gephardt, Democrat-Missouri: "I fully support the missions of the American armed forces currently carrying out military action against Iraq. These efforts are part of a longstanding bipartisan effort to degrade the Iraqi government's capacity to develop and deliver weapons of mass destruction and diminish its ability to threaten its neighbors." Senator Jesse Helms, R-North Carolina: "I am convinced that Saddam Hussein has left the United States with no choice but to strike Iraq, and I believe most Americans will support the decision by our defense leaders....I, like the vast majority of Americans, will continue to support the actions of our military leaders in the Gulf -- if, and only if, these strikes are followed by a sustained and vigorous international effort aimed at ridding Iraq of Saddam Hussein once and for all." Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-West Virginia: "A month ago, when the United States last faced a potential military confrontation in Iraq over its continued intransigence and noncompliance with weapons inspections, I urged the Administration to strike, and strike hard, to end this continuing cycle of confrontation and retreat. Now that Iraq has once again reneged on its commitment to allow weapons inspectors to do their work, and has taken steps to hide or destroy evidence of its continuing efforts to develop barbaric weapons of mass destructions, I believe that this military action is warranted." Senator John Warner, R-Virginia: "This strike was needed if Saddam Hussein continued to violate the rule of law, as established by the consortium of nations in the United Nations and the (UN) Security Council. And he knew he was violating it, and he knows the conditions of that violation. And therefore, he brought this on himself." Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., D-Delaware: "The timing of this action was determined by Iraq, which refused to cooperate fully with inspections, and by the UN Special Commission on Iraq, which yesterday submitted a report documenting Iraq's failure to comply, and by the start of the holy month of Ramadan, which starts this weekend. Now is time to act." Representative Benjamin Gilman, R-New York: "We must direct our energies toward making certain that our military efforts are going to be successful and as effective as possible. But we must also make certain that ours is a comprehensive policy that seeks to end Saddam's ability to taunt and endanger the international community. We must also reach out to those groups within Iraq who are willing to rise up against Saddam Hussein." Senator Joe Lieberman, D-Connecticut: "I am proud to support President Clinton in taking whatever actions he deems necessary as our Commander in Chief. The timing of any required military action by the United States is the responsibility of Saddam Hussein and will be in response to the non-political and impartial report of Richard Butler and his UNSCOM team." Senator Richard Shelby, R-Alabama: "I believe, as I have stated countless times, that the United States must take the actions necessary to remove Saddam from power. Despite repeated threats from the Clinton Administration, Saddam Hussein has continued to taunt the United States and defy agreements Iraq made regarding weapons inspections....While the ultimate decision regarding military intervention is left to the President, I believe efforts to oust Saddam from power will go a long way toward encouraging peace in the region, and ultimately the world." Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-California: "I support the President's decision, reached with the unanimous recommendation of the President's national security team. In defying UNSCOM, Saddam Hussein seriously misjudged the resolve of the United States that, if full and complete cooperation and access was not accorded to UNSCOM, the U.S. would take direct unilateral military action." Senator John Ashcroft, R-Missouri: "A policy of sustained effort designed to remove Saddam from power and eliminate his weapons of mass destruction deserves our support....I fear that Saddam Hussein has now closed the door on the seven year policy of internationally-sponsored inspections. It appears that... (he) has evicted the inspectors for good and is paying a price that he is well able to afford in the form of a few days of bombing. I have no doubt that his intention is to rebuild his weapons programs, as fast as he is able." Senator Paul Wellstone, D-Minnesota: "I support the President's decision to launch military strikes against targets in Iraq....Saddam Hussein's continuing refusal to cooperate with the UNSCOM, which has sought to enforce compliance with United Nations' Security Council resolutions, is simply unacceptable." Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kansas: "It is critical that Americans stand united in support of our military and our leaders in this action. A clear signal must be sent to Iraq and the rest of the world about our united and strong resolve to halt outlaw actions and meet world security threats." Senator Chuck Hagel, R-Nebraska: "I support the strikes undertaken this evening by the United States against military targets in Iraq. This is about the credibility of the United States of America. Our word, our will to act is on the line here, and we cannot allow Saddam Hussein to continue to defy the will of the free world." Senator Byron Dorgan, D-North Dakota: "U.S. military forces involved in this attack gained significant advantage in carrying out their mission precisely because it was a surprise attack. Saddam Hussein in one of the few leaders in this world who has murdered his own citizens, in his own country with weapons of mass destruction. To ignore his attempt to acquire more weapons of mass destruction would be a dangerous thing for the entire world, and that is why our country needed to exert some leadership in this instance." Senator Sam Brownback, R-Kansas: "Saddam has thwarted the will of the international community and has consistently broken promises he made, and in doing so, he has forced us into military action. This must be the beginning of the end of the Saddam Hussein regime of terror. I have sorrow for the Iraqi people because of what they've suffered under Saddam's tyranny." Senator Robert Torricelli, D-New Jersey: "Saddam has once again underestimated the American will to act. The national security team, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are united in support of today's action. This is not a symbolic strike, but a substantive and sustained effort with international consensus." Congressman Jerry Solomon, R-New York: "Since 1992, Saddam Hussein has established a pattern of noncompliance with the international inspection regime, a pattern of outright defiance that is so unrelenting and unmistakable that military action was called for long before now. Let this present action against Iraq be the first strike in an effort to deal with the source of the problem once and for all -- not just the symptoms."
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