Posted on 03/11/2003 6:23:07 AM PST by PhilipFreneau
[From S. J. RES 45]
To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.
Whereas Congress in 1998 concluded that Iraq was then in material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations and thereby threatened the vital interests of the United States and international peace and security, stated the reasons for that conclusion, and urged the President to take appropriate action to bring Iraq into compliance with its international obligations (Public Law 105-235);
Read Senate Joint Resolution 45
[from CNN.com]
In a major victory for the White House, the Senate early Friday voted 77-23 to authorize President Bush to attack Iraq if Saddam Hussein refuses to give up weapons of mass destruction as required by U.N. resolutions.
The measure passed the Senate and House by wider margins than the 1991 resolution that empowered the current president's father to go to war to expel Iraq from Kuwait. That measure passed 250-183 in the House and 52-47 in the Senate.
"The president is authorized to use the armed forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to (1) defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq, and (2) enforce all relevant United Nation Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq."
The resolution requires the president to notify Congress within (before or after) 48 hours of any military action against Iraq and submit, at least every 60 days, a report to Congress on the military campaign.
The resolution does not tie any U.S. action to a U.N. resolution.
Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Missouri, said giving Bush the authority to attack Iraq could avert war by demonstrating the United States is willing to confront Saddam over his obligations to the United Nations.
"I believe we have an obligation to protect the United States by preventing him from getting these weapons and either using them himself or passing them or their components on to terrorists who share his destructive intent," said Gephardt, who helped draft the measure.
[from CBSnews.com]
The Congressional vote endorsing the resolution on Iraq is seen as a solid endorsement of Mr. Bush's insistence that he will work with the United Nations if possible, or alone if necessary, to disarm Saddam of his weapons of mass destruction.
House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri is one of the authors of the resolution.
"The issue is how to best protect America. And I believe this resolution does that," says Gephardt.
The bipartisan agreement gives the president most of the powers he asked for, allowing him to act without going through the United Nations. But in a concession to Democratic concerns, it encourages him to exhaust all diplomatic means first and requires he report to Congress every 60 days if he does take action.
from theKCRAChannel.com]
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle became the last top congressional Democrat to announce he would vote for the resolution, calling the measure a "statement of American resolve."
"Because of the importance of the United States speaking with one voice ... I will vote to give the president authority he needs," Daschle said.
Daschle said the resolution is changed from the one originally requested by the White House but still gives Bush power to combat the threat in Iraq.
The South Dakota Democrat began his announcement by outlining the dangers posed by Saddam Hussein, saying the Iraqi president has spent years stockpiling weapons such as VX, sarin gas and anthrax.
"And we know Saddam Hussein is committed to one day possessing nuclear weapons," Daschle said.
Daschle said the original desire by the Bush administration to act unilaterally and without congressional authorization was "wrong."
"I now commend the administration for changing its approach and working with our allies," Daschle said, applauding the president for recognizing Congress' power to authorize the president to order military force.
Daschle outlined four major changes to the measure:
The resolution's authorization focuses only on Iraq -- not other nations, groups or individuals.
The president should, but is not required to, work through U.N. Security Council.
The president must certify to Congress that diplomacy with Baghdad has failed.
The president must report back to Congress every 60 days on "all matters relevant to this resolution."
Daschle said the resolution now reflects the "balance of power" between Congress and the administration.
[from UPI]
House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri, after admitting that he was mistaken in his opposition to the 1991 Gulf War, also threw his support behind the new Bush doctrine of preventive first strikes on American enemies.
"We must now do everything in our power to prevent further terrorist attacks and ensure that an attack with a weapon of mass destruction cannot happen," he said. "The consequences of such an attack are unimaginable.
"We spent 50 years in a Cold War and trillions of dollars deterring a weapon of mass destruction attack by another country. Now we must prevent such an attack by terrorists - who, unlike our previous adversaries, are willing to die. In these new circumstances, deterrence may not work. With these new dangers, prevention must work," he added.
In a major victory for President George W. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., also announced his support for the resolution. Daschle had been fairly closed-mouthed about his specific stance on the resolution until Thursday, previously sounding optimistic that a resolution could be reached and critical of Iraq - but stopping far short of endorsing the plan.
"Because this resolution is improved, because I believe that Saddam Hussein represents a real threat, and because I believe it is important for America to speak with one voice at this critical moment, I will vote to give the president the authority he needs," Daschle said.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Daschle detailed how the resolution had been changed to his liking and - despite expressing support for the use-of-force resolution - also warned the president about the dangers of using force.
"If the administration attempts to use the authority in this resolution without doing the work that is required before and after military action in Iraq, the situation there - and elsewhere - can indeed get worse," Daschle said.
"We could see more turmoil in the Persian Gulf, not less. Americans could find themselves more vulnerable to terrorist attacks, not less.
"This resolution represents a beginning, not an end. If we are going to make America and the world safer, much more work needs to be done before the force authorized in this document is used," he added.
Note that President Bush is doing exactly what the Democrats asked: "exhaust all diplomatic means first".
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