17 September 2002
Republican Senators Back Bush's Message to United Nations on Iraq
(Lawmakers say Saddam Hussein is threat) (790) By Steve LaRocque Washington File Staff Writer Washington -- Republican senators have been speaking out in support of the Bush message to the United Nations that Saddam Hussein's regime represents a threat to the Middle East region and the United States. The Republican lawmakers number 49 in the 100-member Senate. To pass a resolution backing the Bush administration on Iraq would require the support of at least 50 senators, with the Vice President casting a tie-breaking vote. Senator George Allen (Republican of Virginia), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a September 12 statement said President Bush had made an "effective, compelling" case against the Iraqi dictator. Allen noted Baghdad's chemical and biological weapons programs, and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons capability, citing the contempt Saddam Hussein has shown for eleven years and "the magnitude of the threat he poses." "We cannot wait until Saddam reaches the final stages of his nuclear weapons-development program," Allen said. "The case is clear: the regime of Saddam Hussein is a threat to its own people, to its neighbors and to world stability," said Senator Jesse Helms (Republican of North Carolina). "Appeasement must end," added Helms, the ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "Passing strongly worded resolutions 16 times in the last 10 years but not enforcing them has undermined the United Nations and the military effort the U.S. led in defeating Saddam Hussein and liberating Kuwait," according to Senator Don Nickles (Republican of Oklahoma). "I expect the President to request a resolution from Congress that would call for using whatever means necessary to force Saddam Hussein's compliance with U.N. resolutions and I would expect it to pass this year by a wide margin," Nickles said. "I think it is now important for this Congress to speak," said Senator Jeff Sessions (Republican of Alabama). "Are we with the President or are we against him," he asked fellow lawmakers in a September 13 speech, "We need to make clear whether we will support the President or not." Senator Charles Grassley (Republican of Iowa), one of only two Republican senators to vote against a resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq in 1991, in a statement said that if the Baghdad regime "doesn't make good, and if the United Nations means anything, then there have to be consequences for not abiding by United Nations' resolutions." "I believe that the President made a strong and clear case that Saddam must go," said Senator Richard Shelby (Republican of Alabama). "Not only is the intelligence there, but history is there as well," said Shelby. "Saddam has used weapons of mass destruction, he continues to produce them, and is working hard to develop a nuclear weapon." Saddam Hussein has attacked his neighbors, added Shelby, and "used every weapon at his disposal and consequently destabilized the entire region." The Iraqi dictator "gives aid to terrorists and supports their violent aspirations," said Shelby, who as a Senate Democrat in 1991 was one of ten Democratic lawmakers who joined with Republican senators to pass the resolution authorizing the use of force to expel Iraq from Kuwait. Senator Robert Bennett (Republican of Utah) denounced "Saddam Hussein's decade of defiance," while adding that President Bush "should and will come to Congress to make the case for intervention in Iraq." "For 11 years, Saddam and his regime have lied to the world and defied the United Nations systematically and continually by violating 16 UN Security Council resolutions," said Senator James Bunning (Republican of Kentucky). "He is harboring Al Qaeda terrorists," Bunning said, "Iraq is hiring nuclear scientists and buying nuclear materials." According to Senator Fred Thompson (Republican of Tennessee), President Bush pointed out the "most dangerous circumstances that we can contemplate is having a regime" with the ability to transfer weapons capabilities to terrorists. The United States knows that Saddam Hussein has "a long history of relationships with various terrorist organizations, including some with Al Qaeda," Thompson said. "Are we to assume that he would not ever use as a surrogate someone to do his dirty work," the Tennessee Republican asked. "Iraq is extremely relevant to the war on terrorism. I think those who urge that we totally clean up the war on terrorism before we address the situation in Iraq are missing the point," Thompson said. "We know Saddam continues to pursue nuclear weapons and develop his arsenal of chemical and biological weapons," said Senator Sam Brownback (Republican of Kansas). "We cannot afford to ignore this menace," he said, "I am pleased the president is giving the world a chance to recognize and confront this danger as a united front." President Bush, Brownback added, "must have a vote from Congress on this issue before adjourning." The Senate is currently scheduled to adjourn on October 4, with midterm elections set for November 5. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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