Congressional Reaction to UN/Powell Testimony

Fox, CNN, News | Feb. 5, 2003 | Various

[Peach]

Post any public comments you hear from Congress here.

[Carry_Okie]

The presence of al Qaeda operatives in Iraq and in so many countries in the Middle East and the rest of the world is troubling. It is a reminder of the danger of losing the focus of the war on terrorism and the support of the international coalition with which it has been conducted.

Talk about "losing focus"! This kind of myopia doesn't get further than her vanity mirror.

Just what would Miss Nancy propose to do about Al Quaeda in Iraq? Send Saddam a letter asking him to kick please them out?

[Dahoser]

The presence of al Qaeda operatives in Iraq and in so many countries in the Middle East and the rest of the world is troubling. It is a reminder of the danger of losing the focus of the war on terrorism and the support of the international coalition with which it has been conducted.

On the contrary, all the more sharpened focus with al Qaeda in Iraq. Does she listen to herself at all?

[Carolinamom]

Kofi Annan.....if inspecters continue, then I think we can avoid a war. Willing coward?

[TX Bluebonnet]

The case for disarming Saddam Hussein is strong and well known, and Secretary Powell reiterated that case today. We all share the goal of eliminating weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and in other countries around the world.

I thought Nancy just stated recently that Saddam DIDN'T have weapons of mass destruction (even though he might use them against us if we attacked). Now she is saying she knew he had them all along? If the case for disarming him is so well known, why didn't she own up to it before now>

[AndyTheBear]

If Feinstein et al were not aware of most of this stuff, how can we consider them competant to hold office; being that us normal folk who bothered to pay attention were aware of most of this stuff?

[Jim Noble]

>>I would be pleasantly disappointed if Daschle didn's share his disappointment with us<<

He's concerned-no, no-troubled.

Deeply troubled.

[Jim Noble]

>> Saddam is dangerous the real possibilities of their having these WMD are real but we have to make the judgement before committing troops that the queston isn't disarming but the best way to do it<<

I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit.

It's the only way to be sure.

[TX Bluebonnet]

If Feinstein et al were not aware of most of this stuff, how can we consider them competant to hold office; being that us normal folk who bothered to pay attention were aware of most of this stuff?

Ditto! I am amazed at either their ignorance or pretense of ignorance. I'm not sure which is worse.

[Jim Noble]

>> Pelosi gave a statement a short time ago that war is not the answer<<

Peace, man.

Groovy.

[finnman69]

STRANGELY (LOL) the DNC.org website has no mention of Colin Powell's speech yet. RoFL

http://www.democrats.org/press/

[Jim Noble]

>>Syria knows the job of Omega Wolf will soon be open<<

if it was up to me, I'd keep rolling through Baghdad to Damascus.

Disinfect the whole mess.

[freepersup]

Mr President- We'd like you to take a look at the public's support for the Democrats. It's right there Mr. President. Just take a look.

[OldFriend]

Lantos is concerned about Iraqi's paying bounties to the murderous bombers in Israel. He's caught between his liberal friends and doing the right thing.

[Potemkin_village_idiot]

No! Deeply troubled AND concerned . . . very very concerned. Did I mention troubled? too!

[Peach]

I hope you know I was quoting Teddy when I typed the words "Saddam is dangerous but...". I never got off board taking out Saddam since '91 but especially since 9/11.

[Peach]

It's so interesting the naysayers are conducting an investigation into what our intelligence community and this administration knew before 9/11. But when given evidence and expressions of grave concern about Iraq doing something far worse than 9/11, the naysayers don't want to listen. Do we literally have to have a mushroom cloud in the US before the Dems get it?

[chiefqc]

Looking for something to stand on that will make him look taller.

[finnman69]

Lawmakers applaud Powell presentation
But some questions remain about move toward war

WASHINGTON (CNN) --Many lawmakers expressed hope Wednesday that Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation to the United Nations will convince skeptical nations that Iraq is defying disarmament resolutions and that they must be willing to confront Saddam Hussein by military force, if necessary.

Powell's presentation won praise from Democrats and Republicans, but some lawmakers stressed that the Bush administration needs to better prepare the American public for the sacrifices and commitment that a war with Iraq would likely involve. And several members of Congress said they would like to see a final ultimatum from the United Nations in the form of another resolution before the United States moves against Iraq.

"I think Secretary Powell made a very powerful and, I think, irrefutable case today before the Security Council," Sen. Joseph Biden, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told reporters after the 90-minute-long presentation.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert said Powell's presentation had unveiled "the true nature" of Saddam's regime.

"The evidence proves that Saddam Hussein has a loaded gun pointed at the civilized world," Hastert said in a statement. "It is time to take that loaded gun away from this evil tyrant."

Biden, D-Delaware, said the evidence confirms what he believed "for some time now" -- that Saddam is hiding weapons of mass destruction and trying to amass more. The senator called on the Security Council to "live up to its responsibilities" and said that the choice of war or peace was Saddam's.

Biden stressed that President Bush needs to do a better job of preparing the American public for a long-term commitment of U.S. armed forces in Iraq. Many people, Biden said, believe a military strike against Iraq would be "bloodless" and that U.S. troops would return home quickly.

"Johnny will not come marching home. We will be required to stay in-country with tens of thousands of forces for an extended period of time," Biden said, adding that such an endeavor would cost billions of dollars.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, R-Indiana, said the administration had made a "very powerful case" against Iraq and expressed optimism that it would sway world opinion against the regime of Saddam.

Sen. George Allen, R-Virginia, agreed, predicting more European allies would soon stand with the United States against Iraq.

"Time is running very short," Allen said.

But some lawmakers, particularly Democrats, remained leery of the prospect of war. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, said Powell had made "a very strong case" about the dangers posed by Saddam, but said that does not mean the United States should strike Iraq.

"The question isn't disarming Saddam Hussein," Kennedy said. "It is how to be able to do it."

Many members of Congress, primarily Democrats, have been calling on the administration to make a clearer case that Saddam poses a threat to the United States and the world before the president sends troops in to topple him.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, dismissed the suggestion that the administration has any more proving to do.

"I don't think any amount of evidence will convince the appeasers out there," DeLay said.

Rep. Jane Harman, D-California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said she is pleased the administration is getting "beyond the rhetoric," but she said the presentation was overdue.

"This is what we should have been doing a while ago," said Harman.

In a typical reaction to Powell's speech, Sen. John Kerry -- a Democratic presidential contender for 2004 -- said Powell had effectively placed the onus on the United Nations to enforce its own resolutions.

"With such strong evidence in front of them, it is now incumbent on the U.N. to respect its own mandates," Kerry said.


http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/02/05/sprj.irq.powell.us.reax/index.html

[wcbtinman]

I keep hearing from the Socialists that they are consistently worried about the cost of a war and occupation in Iraq.

First, I would ask them what about the costs of another 9-11 style incident or worse. How many billions has it cost, and continues to cost the private sector, let alone the govt over the WTC disaster.

Second, if the US is going to occupy Iraq for any length of time, Iraq's oil revenues could be used to offset the costs of the conflict. This is commonly called "war reparations" and would be entirely justified.

I find it amazing that the Socialists are worried at all about the cost of anything since they just print more money to cover the debt anyway.

[Churchillspirit]

Saw Biden interviewed by Wendel Goler of FOX outside the White House. Anyone else who saw this notice his gaff?

He said that had Saddam been defeated in 1939 he would have had to sign the Treaty of Versailles!

LOL!