Posted on 09/12/2002 1:11:36 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) expressed concern Thursday about what he called was the "politization" of the coalition against Iraq, including the possibility of voting on a resolution before the November elections.
Reacting to President Bush's speech before the UN on the Iraq issue, Daschle said congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle are taking their time to consider what action should be taken.
"I don't know that his [Bush's] lack of a time frame necessitated any particular expectation as regard to how we might respond. I think that it's very important for us to be deliberate," he said. "I think the vast majority of members of Congress believe this - that we wanna do it right. We don't care if we do it quickly."
Daschle added that the president has yet to formally request a resolution from Congress.
"Until he asks for a resolution, we will continue to work with the administration and continue to talk among ourselves about what the appropriate strategy ought to be and how we might respond," he said.
Daschle said the Bush administration must first make its case, then make a request.
"Third, the Congress needs to take into account the request based on that information provided, and fourth, make some deliberative decision with regard to how we would proceed on a resolution," he said.
As far as voting on a resolution before the elections, Daschle has reservations.
"[Former 1996 presidential candidate] Bob Dole objected to having this debate prior to the last incursion in Iraq. He objected to having a vote. On that very basis, I think we've got to take those reservations and those concerns into account. That's why I say I don't think anyone's committed to a course of action legislatively or militarily at this point," he said.
Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Republicans stand behind Bush in his bid to garner support for a war on Iraq. He said winning a war against Iraq won't be as difficult as some make it out to be.
"What member of the Iraqi army is willing to die for Saddam Hussein when they know he's going to be taken down? So I don't think it's going to be nearly as difficult as some assume," McCain said.
As far as Daschle's reluctance to vote on a resolution, McCain said congressional leaders should try their best to convince him that a timely vote is necessary.
"I think that it's pretty clear from Senator Daschle's remarks that he is not committed to a vote before we go out of session. I don't think he has rejected it, but I don't think he's committed to it. I hope that we can convince him that it's necessary to for us to have a debate and the vote before we go out of session," he said.
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R- Miss.) said the United States should approve an attack on Iraq before the United Nations makes its decision.
"And we shouldn't wait for the United Nations to act. We should show that we are united in our support of this president and the goals that he has laid out. That's part of our leadership role in the world," said Lott.
"It bolsters the president's argument when he has an expression [of support], which I think would be a significant majority of Congress being behind him and [supporting] him," McCain said.
He said if Congress drags its feet and does not vote before the session ends, Bush would have to either call Congress back or wait for their approval before carrying out military action.
Now he finds his spine.
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R- Miss.) said the United States should approve an attack on Iraq before the United Nations makes its decision. "And we shouldn't wait for the United Nations to act. We should show that we are united in our support of this president and the goals that he has laid out. That's part of our leadership role in the world," said Lott.
McCain said a timely vote is necessary, "It bolsters the president's argument when he has an expression [of support], which I think would be a significant majority of Congress being behind him and [supporting] him."
Slam Dunk...
Butt-wipe, what part of "Immediate" do you not understand?
that's it, they don't care
But politically, Bush holds all the cards: he need only ask them publicly to debate it, and they absolutely have to do it.
About the only way tommy gets away with this is if he already knows the timetable, knows it's all post-election, and is therefore using it as a club.
I think he does know the timetable. Assuming Bush hasn't asked him to act like a A-hole on purpose, tommy's little game will surely cost him.
Regards, Ivan
Pot meet kettle. Nobody is into "politization" more than Daschle. Am I reading this right? He wants to wait until after the elections because he's afraid this won't work out well for his party?
"I don't know that his [Bush's] lack of a time frame necessitated any particular expectation as regard to how we might respond
Guess he missed the part where the President said "immediate". How's that for a time frame, Tom?
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