The Iraq Liberation Act - FYI's Only Ted

http://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/libera.htm ^ | October 31, 1998 | William J. Clinton

[hflynn]

The Iraq Liberation Act
October 31, 1998

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

October 31, 1998

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Today I am signing into law H.R. 4655, the "Iraq Liberation Act of 1998." This Act makes clear that it is the sense of the Congress that the United States should support those elements of the Iraqi opposition that advocate a very different future for Iraq than the bitter reality of internal repression and external aggression that the current regime in Baghdad now offers.

Let me be clear on what the U.S. objectives are: The United States wants Iraq to rejoin the family of nations as a freedom-loving and law-abiding member. This is in our interest and that of our allies within the region.

The United States favors an Iraq that offers its people freedom at home. I categorically reject arguments that this is unattainable due to Iraq's history or its ethnic or sectarian make-up. Iraqis deserve and desire freedom like everyone else. The United States looks forward to a democratically supported regime that would permit us to enter into a dialogue leading to the reintegration of Iraq into normal international life.

My Administration has pursued, and will continue to pursue, these objectives through active application of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The evidence is overwhelming that such changes will not happen under the current Iraq leadership.

In the meantime, while the United States continues to look to the Security Council's efforts to keep the current regime's behavior in check, we look forward to new leadership in Iraq that has the support of the Iraqi people. The United States is providing support to opposition groups from all sectors of the Iraqi community that could lead to a popularly supported government.

On October 21, 1998, I signed into law the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, which made $8 million available for assistance to the Iraqi democratic opposition. This assistance is intended to help the democratic opposition unify, work together more effectively, and articulate the aspirations of the Iraqi people for a pluralistic, participa--tory political system that will include all of Iraq's diverse ethnic and religious groups. As required by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY 1998 (Public Law 105-174), the Department of State submitted a report to the Congress on plans to establish a program to support the democratic opposition. My Administration, as required by that statute, has also begun to implement a program to compile information regarding allegations of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes by Iraq's current leaders as a step towards bringing to justice those directly responsible for such acts.

The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 provides additional, discretionary authorities under which my Administration can act to further the objectives I outlined above. There are, of course, other important elements of U.S. policy. These include the maintenance of U.N. Security Council support efforts to eliminate Iraq's weapons and missile programs and economic sanctions that continue to deny the regime the means to reconstitute those threats to international peace and security. United States support for the Iraqi opposition will be carried out consistent with those policy objectives as well. Similarly, U.S. support must be attuned to what the opposition can effectively make use of as it develops over time. With those observations, I sign H.R. 4655 into law.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON

THE WHITE HOUSE,

October 31, 1998.

[hflynn]

I guess Ted Kennedy never heard of this.

[Archangelsk]

You're agreeing with Bubba? My God the apocalypse is upon us....lol.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Why, oh, why didn't they take care of this back then? And why do the lefties think that History begins anew each day when they wake up?

I'll never understand it. :(

[wmileo]

Ted Kennedy is an embarrassment to his family, his country and his party. His behavior is without precident. I can not think of any American Office Holder who has disgraced himself to the extent as Mr. Kennedy.

That said, The IRAQI Elections will proceed despite his ignoble efforts to undermine them and his country.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

A war plan was drafted and every Democrat was on board. But it got shelved without a whimper from anybody when the oil-for-food bribe money started hitting the DemonRats' Swiss bank accounts.

[DTogo]

Here's another:

(December 16, 1998 Statement by President Clinton about Iraqi WMD, UNSCOM non-compliance, use of force, etc.)

[hflynn]

Just a coincidence with the release of a Report by House Judiciary Committee dated December 16, 1998 recommending impeachment of the President.

[DTogo]

Hence the use of "Monica Missiles."

[Smartaleck]

HR 4655

Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 - Declares that it should be the policy of the United States to seek to remove the Saddam Hussein regime from power in Iraq and to replace it with a democratic government.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d105:HR04655:@@@D&summ2=m&