[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 126 (Friday, September 13, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S10552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE SITUATION IN IRAQ

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I have been glued to the television today 
in order to keep myself updated on the situation in Iraq. Needless to 
say, I am more than a little frustrated that no attempts have been made 
by the President to consult the Congress on this swiftly evolving 
situation. I do not say this lightly, Mr. President, but CNN reporting 
is not what I would consider fulfillment of the President's reporting 
obligation in the War Powers Act.
  The War Powers Act states that the ``President in every possible 
instance shall consult with Congress before'' introducing troops into 
imminent hostilities and shall also consult with Congress regularly 
after the introduction of combat troops. Mr. President, that also 
applies when situations develop into hostilities. This obligation was 
easily overlooked for the incident on August 31. The Congress was 
adjourned on recess, making it difficult, if not impossible to brief 
Members prior to taking action. The Congress stood with the President 
in an effort to fully support our troops and his decision as Commander 
in Chief. However, the current situation is quite different. The 
Congress is here, and we are waiting. Let me be clear, Mr. President, 
support for our troops is steadfast. But the President cannot assume 
the continued support of Congress if he fails to keep us informed.
  Mr. President, the President acted to counter Saddam Hussein's 
aggression against the Kurds, and quickly declared victory. The 
President's policy to-date is not a victory. In less than a week's 
time, the premature declaration has soured into a situation that has 
our pilots being shot at in the Northern No-Fly Zone, Hussein gaining a 
strong foothold in the former Kurdish safe-haven, and a movement of 
American personnel and equipment into the Persian Gulf. If a strong and 
clear policy is not defined soon, the President's policy in the gulf 
will most assuredly become an abject failure. It's time to come to the 
Congress and the American people with a defined mission, goals and exit 
strategy. It is time for the President to fulfill his obligations under 
the War Powers Act.
  In my speech on the situation in Iraq, just a week ago today, I 
expressed concerns about the President's failure to maintain the 
alliance with our gulf war partners. Without the coalition, we risk 
losing the necessary strategic advantage we how hold, and our defensive 
presence in the gulf will necessarily deteriorate. Saddam Hussein is 
testing our resolve in the Persian Gulf by his efforts to play divide 
and conquer with the United States and our coalition partners from the 
gulf war. Without a clearly defined missioned and policy, we will 
continue to be pulled into a situation that will isolate us in the 
region and leave few, if any, positive options to resolve the 
situation.
  Saddam Hussein is not an individual to be toyed with. He understands 
little other than aggression, and we should be wary that for him, 
embarrassing the United States at any cost may be considered a victory. 
This is very important, Mr. President, because that cost could include 
American lives.
  Mr. President, the reporting on CNN provides good and timely 
information, but it does not provide insight, direction, or a clear 
message about the policy you intend to pursue. Therefore, it is my hope 
and my purpose to encourage the President to fulfill his obligation to 
the Congress under the War Powers Act for the American people and for 
our troops.

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