29 January 2003
Congressional Response Varied on Iraq Issues in Bush Address
(Congressional Report, January 29: Iraq/State of the Union) (650) U.S. Senator Joseph Biden says there is ample evidence now to convince everyone of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs and of Baghdad's links to the terrorist group al-Qaeda, although he said that U.N. weapons inspectors should be given some additional time to continue their work. The Bush administration "has evidence now that can change people's minds," the Delaware Democrat said January 28 following President Bush's televised State of the Union address to a global audience. He said there is "enough circumstantial evidence that if this were a jury trial," he could obtain a conviction. Biden was one of a number of members of Congress whose comments on the Bush address reflected a range of thought on what courses of action seem most viable for the United States. U.S. Representative Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican and Speaker of the House of Representatives, said that "unless we stand fast and stand strong, the forces of evil will not disappear. This is not the time for the timid leadership offered by the naysayers." In contrast, Senator Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, said he will introduce a resolution calling on the president to present "convincing evidence of an imminent threat" before sending U.S. combat forces into Iraq. "Instead of rushing down the path to war with Iraq, the American people deserve a full debate," he said. Congress overwhelmingly approved in October 2002 a resolution authorizing military action against Iraq. Bush vowed, in his speech before both houses of Congress, to use the "full force and might of the U.S. military," if necessary to disarm the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. Bush also announced that he is dispatching Secretary of State Colin Powell to the U.N. Security Council February 5 to "present information and intelligence about Iraq's illegal weapons program." Biden, who is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that potential military operations against Iraq seem increasingly likely. "We've kind of reached the point of almost no return," he said, but added "That doesn't mean we shouldn't be able to give it more time." House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, said there is evidence that Iraq has some 6,500 chemical bombs and enough biological agents to produce 5,000 liters of anthrax as well as a ballistic missile program. "America's armed forces are moving into position to disarm Iraq," Hunter said. "While we all hope it will be done peacefully, we must remain committed to accomplishing our mission. Make no mistake, this country is prepared to act in concert with our allies or stand alone. But, Iraq will be disarmed." House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde, an Illinois Republican, said the recent reports by the U.N. Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the Security Council indicate that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has failed to comply with U.N.-directed resolutions to disarm. "The fact that no amount of evidence of Iraq's bad faith will ever be enough for some members of the international community should not stop that community -- and cannot stop the United States -- from acting to defend its interests," Hyde said. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican, said "there are a number of things that could occur in Iraq. But at the end of the day, Saddam Hussein must stop producing weapons of mass destruction (and) he must give up the weapons that he has already declared four years ago." However, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat, said "we need more than bits and pieces" of information on Iraq from intelligence reports. "I think we need a compelling case." (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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