Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=8-1-02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS IRAQ (L)

NUMBER=2-292691

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S lawmakers are weighing the implications of possible U-S military action to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, whom Washington accuses of developing weapons of mass destruction. A Senate panel heard from a group of experts for a second day Thursday. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: Amid news reports that the Bush administration is considering a range of options to oust Saddam Hussein, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is considering the costs to the United States of forcing a regime change in Iraq and supporting a new government.

Former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger says the mission would be a daunting one.

/// BERGER ACTUALITY ///

The American people must be prepared for a more challenging mission: urban combat, (Iraqi) chemical weapons attacks, Saddam's use of human shields, and an American presence in Iraq measured in years when we succeed.

/// END ACT ///

Retired Colonel Scott Feil, who served in 'Desert Storm', the U-S led mission to oust Iraqi troops from Kuwait more than a decade ago, says a large U-S presence in Iraq would be necessary as a follow-up to Saddam Hussein's ouster.

/// FEIL ACTUALITY ///

I would see a significant force of about five-thousand people for about five to six years.

/// END ACT ///

Committee Chairman Joe Biden a Delaware Democrat, estimated that toppling Saddam Hussein and helping Iraq rebuild would cost the United States at least 75 billion dollars.

/// opt /// He said U-S troops would would have a variety of tasks in the rebuilding effort.

/// BIDEN opt ACTUALITY ///

The mission is providing security for the largest eight cities, the mission is securing w-m-d (weapons of mass destruction) facilities we are going to go around looking for them, the mission is patrolling the Iranian border and the Kurdish areas, securing the oil fields, monitoring the region along the Tigris-Euphrates river along the Syrian border because there is a lot of smuggling there, conducting integrated disarmament and demobilization.

/// END ACT - END OPT ///

Senator Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican, appeared sobered by the costs and risks associated with such a scenario.

/// LUGAR ACTUALITY ///

There is an enormous expense and commitment of people as well as treasury for a number of years, and for just one country, and a country in a neighborhood of countries that may in fact feel threatened by democracy if it did evolve in Iraq. Democracy does not necessarily prevail all around this new Iraq.

/// END ACT ///

But former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger dismissed concerns that a mission to oust Saddam Hussein would be too risky and would require a huge commitment from the United States.

/// WEINBERGER ACTUALITY ///

I think a lot of this is a set of strawmen that are set up as a basis for arguing for inaction. We all agree the regime is terrible and Saddam Hussein is a beast of the worst kind and must go. But then everybody starts pointing out the enormous difficulties afterwards. The departure of Saddam Hussein does not guarantee chaos in the region.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Weinberger said a quick and decisive U-S operation could successfully remove Saddam Hussein from power. He said a significant post war American presence in Iraq would not be required because, he argued, Arab allies happy to see Saddam Hussein gone from power would be eager to help the nation rebuild.

Although President Bush has called for a regime change in Iraq, administration officials say no decision has been made on whether to invade Iraq. (signed)

Neb/dat/PT