Replies

AUTHORIZING USE OF U.S. ARMED FORCES PURSUANT TO U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION (Senate - January 12, 1991)

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I do not believe our Nation is prepared for war. But I am absolutely convinced our Nation does not believe that war is necessary. Nevertheless, this body may vote momentarily to permit it.

When I returned from Vietnam, I wrote then I was willing personally, in the future, to fight and possibly die for my country. But I said then it must be when the Nation as a whole has decided that there is a real threat and that the Nation as a whole has decided that we all must go.

I do not believe this test has been met. There is no consensus in America for war and, therefore, the Congress should not vote to authorize war.

If we go to war in the next few days, it will not be because our immediate vital interests are so threatened and we have no other choice. It is not because of nuclear, chemical, biological weapons when, after all, Saddam Hussein had all those abilities or was working toward them for years--even while we armed him and refused to hold him accountable for using some of them. It will be because we set an artificial deadline. As we know, those who have been in war, there is no artificial wound, no artificial consequence of war.

Most important, we must balance that against the fact that we have an alternative, an alternative that would allow us to kick Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait, an accomplishment that we all want to achieve.

I still believe that notwithstanding the outcome of this vote, we can have a peaceful resolution. I think it most likely. If we do, for a long time, people will argue in America

about whether this vote made it possible.

Many of us will always remain convinced that a similar result could have come about without such a high-risk high-stakes throw away of our constitutional power.

If not, if we do go to war, for years people will ask why Congress gave in. They will ask why there was such a rush to so much death and destruction when it did not have to happen.

It does not have to happen if we do our job.

So I ask my colleagues if we are really once again so willing to have our young and our innocent bear the price of our impatience.

I personally believe, and I have heard countless of my colleagues say, that they think the President made a mistake to unilaterally increase troops, set a date and make war so probable. I ask my colleagues if we are once again so willing to risk people dying from a mistake.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator's time has expired.

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 13--COMMENDING THE PRESIDENT AND THE ARMED SERVICES FOR THE SUCCESS OF OPERATION DESERT STORM (Senate - February 28, 1991)

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Mr. DOLE (for himself, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Pell, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Boren, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Reid, Mr. Adams, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bentsen, Mr. Biden, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Brown, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Bumpers, Mr. Burdick, Mr. Burns, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Coats, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Craig, Mr. Cranston, Mr. D'Amato, Mr. Danforth, Mr. Daschle, Mr. DeConcini, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Durenberger, Mr. Exon, Mr. Ford, Mr. Fowler, Mr. Garn, Mr. Glenn, Mr. Gore, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Graham, Mr. Gramm, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Hatfield, Mr. Heflin, Mr. Heinz, Mr. Helms, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Johnston, Mrs. Kassebaum, Mr. Kasten, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerrey, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lott, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Mack, Mr. McCain, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Metzenbaum, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Nunn, Mr. Packwood, Mr. Pressler, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Riegle, Mr. Robb, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Roth, Mr. Rudman, Mr. Sanford, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Sasser, Mr. Seymour, Mr. Shelby, Mr. Simon, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Smith, Mr. Specter, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Symms, Mr. Thurmond, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Warner, Mr. Wellstone, and Mr. Wirth) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

S. Con. Res. 13
Whereas United States and coalition armed forces have achieved remarkable success in totally defeating Iraqi military forces and ousting them from Kuwait;

Whereas these historic accomplishments have been achieved at an astoundingly small loss of life and number of casualties among American and coalition forces;

Whereas to date 185 Americans are known to have been killed (including 79 in combat), 302 wounded (including 212 in combat), 34 Missing in Action, and 9 taken by Iraq as prisoners of war;

Whereas an unknown number of Kuwaiti civilians have reportedly been seized and removed to unknown locations by Iraqi armed forces: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that:

1. The Congress applauds and expresses the appreciation of the nation to:

(a) President Bush, Commander in Chief of all American armed forces, for his leadership during Operation Desert Storm.

(b) Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Colin Powell and Desert Storm Commander Norman Schwarzkopf, for their planning and implementation of Operation Desert Storm.

(c) All of the American forces deployed in the Persian Gulf region who have served and succeeded in the highest traditions of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(d) All of the forces from our coalition partners, who served with distinction and success.

(e) The families of American service men and women participating in Operation Desert Storm, who have bravely borne the burden of separation from their loved ones, and staunchly supported them in this crisis.

2. The Congress notes with deep sadness the loss of life on all sides in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The Congress particularly salutes those brave young American men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their nation and in the cause of peace, and sends its deepest condolences to their grieving families.

3. The Congress demands from Saddam Hussein :

(a) The immediate release of all prisoners of war held by Iraq.

(b) A complete accounting for all American and coalition forces listed as missing in action, or otherwise unaccounted for.

(c) The immediate and unconditional release and return to their homes of all Kuwaiti citizens being held by Iraqi forces.

4. The Congress urges all relevant authorities to seriously examine the issue of possible war crimes by Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi military leaders and forces, and to hold Iraq responsible in principle for reparations for the incredible destruction caused by its brutal invasion and occupation of Kuwait.