Posted on 09/06/2002 7:11:34 AM PDT by PhiKapMom
Nickles predicts quick vote on Iraq
2002-09-06
By Chris Casteel
The Oklahoman
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Don Nickles predicted Thursday that Congress will vote before mid- October on a resolution to give President Bush options -- including use of military force -- for dealing with the threat of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Nickles, R-Ponca City, who has attended three White House meetings on Iraq in the last two days, said he asked the president Wednesday whether he wanted Congress to pass a resolution authorizing force before lawmakers left Washington this year.
"He said yes," Nickles said.
Nickles, the Senate's assistant minority leader, said he expects Congress to leave town by Oct. 11 so lawmakers can campaign for the November elections.
"I see us voting on the (Iraqi) resolution in the next three or four or five weeks," Nickles said.
The House and Senate first must hold hearings and consult with administration and military officials and the CIA, he said.
"He put the Iraqi thing right on our plates," Nickles said. "We asked for it, and we got it. It's going to be a big challenge, and we only have five weeks legislatively."
Nickles said a resolution would give the president options, adding that a full-scale invasion isn't the only action being considered by the administration.
"I'm sure the administration wants it as flexible as possible, and I don't want to do one that isn't helpful or puts a lot of qualifications on it," Nickles said.
Nickles' comments came a day after the president said he would seek congressional approval to take action against Iraq.
Nickles and Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, said, in seeking lawmakers' support, Bush did not say he would give Congress veto power over his authority.
While Nickles said it was important for Bush to say he wanted to work with Congress, Inhofe said a public debate was unnecessary.
Inhofe said the president has the authority to launch a pre-emptive attack and a public debate could give sensitive military information to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
Moreover, Inhofe said, a congressional debate would give a public forum to "people who are trying to use this issue politically."
Inhofe, a member of the Armed Services and Intelligence committees, said Congress shouldn't require Bush to meet certain thresholds of evidence that Iraq has the ability to deliver a weapon of mass destruction before an American invasion is launched.
"Every time you make a new requirement, you're taking from him his constitutional responsibility," Inhofe said.
Rep. Ernest Istook said Congress has a duty to debate military action against Iraq.
"If we're talking about removing a foreign government with a huge-scale invasion, that's clearly within the constitutional duties of Congress," said Istook, R- Warr Acres.
Istook said "any military action of this nature needs national unity" and involving Congress is the way to achieve that.
He said the Bush administration's comments on Iraq's development of weapons of mass destruction are "couched in a way that don't give us any detail."
Nickles said he asked Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to share enough intelligence with some members of Congress about the risk to the United States.
Bolded in article is mine and I wanted to highlight the statement above by my two Senators. Believe it says it all!
First they leak this story about the White House Counsel's Office giving them a legal opinion that they don't need Congressional approval. This sends the Democrats and the media into an uproar demanding Congress be involved ... so what does Bush do? He gives them exactly what they want ... a vote on using force vs Iraq! LOL! With November right around the corner, the Democrats have to either give Bush what he wants or risk getting anhilated at the polls!
Bravo, Mr President!
Of course not! Now, lets all bow, scrape, and lick boot . . .
I like Nickles... but what this really translates to is that congress doesn't have the guts to issue a "declaration of war".
Precisely the point I was going to make. In any event, it should help in the election anyway as it will unite the country around the President.
Pound sand Dasshole.
Sometimes when an animal is boxed in with no escape ... it gets dramatically more dangerous. A wild dog might or might not bite you if it has a chance to flee. But if it can't flee.... it will bite given the opportunity.
Not necessarily. Daschle can surely arrange that the hearings are still on-going at the time Congress adjourns on October 11. That way the Dems don't have to go on record with a vote, but can still say that they are carefully debating this serious matter. To paraphrase them: "You know, you can't rush these kinds of things." I would be very surprised if there is actually a vote on this before the election.
And, for those who suggest that Daschle can avoid a vote before the midterm elections, they are wrong. He can't, because there is too much media attention riding on this, and, if he were to obstruct, it opens the door to his greatest weakness -- obstructing the president's agenda.
Absolutely correct, PKM. Every state needs a pair like these two.
Mid October is a most excellent date to schedule a vote on Iraq. The weasle-wordsmiths will have finally shaddup and go on record. If they support Dubya with their vote, they can't weasle out! If they don't, they can't weasle out! Checkmate!
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