[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 159 (Wednesday, November 12, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H10585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION CALLING FOR RESOLVING PEACEFULLY THROUGH
DIPLOMATIC MEANS THE SITUATION IN IRAQ
(Mr. LANTOS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, as divided as this House was on fast track,
we are as united on the subject of dealing with Iraq. Today, I am
introducing a resolution supported by Members across the political
spectrum which has a message for Saddam Hussein in Bagdad.
At the conclusion of the gulf war, the United Nations decided to find
and to destroy all of Iraq's capability to produce chemical,
biological, and nuclear weapons and the missiles capable of delivering
them.
For 6\1/2\ years, Iraq has pursued a policy of deception, lies,
concealment, harassment, and intimidation in a deliberate effort to
hamper the work of the inspectors designed to eliminate Iraq's ability
to produce weapons of mass destruction.
Recently Iraq has escalated its noncompliance by refusing to permit
United States citizens of the inspection team from carrying out their
responsibility.
My resolution calls for resolving peacefully, through diplomatic
means, this matter with full Iraqi compliance. Short of that, my
resolution calls for military action undertaken under the broadest
feasible multinational basis, preferably under United Nations'
auspices, and, if necessary, my resolution calls for the United States
to take military action to assure the destruction of Iraq's capability
to produce and deliver weapons of mass destruction.
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