Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3-18-03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CONGRESS / IRAQ (L-O)

NUMBER=2-300873

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Bush administration officials are assuring skeptical U-S lawmakers that the United States will have a broad international coalition in a looming war to disarm Iraq. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

TEXT: Members of Congress, including some Republicans, have expressed concern that the United States did not succeed in getting U-N Security Council support for a draft resolution effectively authorizing war against Iraq.

Senator Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat, underscored the point at a Senate Foreign Relations hearing.

/// FEINGOLD ACT ///

Today, even as American military and economic might stand unchallenged around the world, we need the rest of the world more than ever before.

/// END ACT ///

But Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman told the committee that, despite opposition to military action among members of the U-N Security Council, the United States will have broad international support for a war against Iraq:

/// GROSSMAN ACT ///

Although we may have a limited number of people with us on the ground, there will be a quite large number of people who will consider themselves part of this coalition, who will give overflight rights or basing rights or other support. I do not feel we are going to be alone in this.

/// END ACT ///

/// START OPT /// Mr. Grossman made his comments as Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters that 45 nations back military action against Iraq, one-third of which are declaring their support privately. /// END OPT ///

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, is taking issue with Democrats who argue that President Bush is to blame for failing to win new U-N Security Council backing for pending war.

/// FRIST ACT ///

The failure of diplomacy to deter Saddam Hussein does not date back to the past four-and-a-half months or to the beginning of the President's term. The failure of diplomacy traces back through 12-years of defiance by Saddam Hussein, 12-years of deceit by his regime, 12-years of slowly eroding international resolve even among our allies while all the time the threat to this country has grown closer and closer and closer.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Frist spoke on the Senate floor during a break in debate over the President's budget proposal for next year.

Democrats continued to criticize the Bush administration for not sending Congress cost estimates of military action against Iraq or post-war reconstruction of the country.

/// START OPT /// Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota is the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee:

/// CONRAD OPT ACT ///

The cost of conflict is not zero, and that is the number that is in this budget. That is what the President has sent us in a budget, that there is not cost. That defies common sense.

/// END ACT // END OPT ///

President Bush is expected to send Congress a supplemental budget request later this month to cover the costs of the military action and post-war reconstruction. News reports have said the package could total as much as 95-billion dollars. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/MAR/RAE