[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 11 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CALLING FOR THE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT ON IRAQI POLICY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GEPHARDT. I thank the Speaker. I thank the Speaker for his 
statement. And I certainly agree that the President's policy should be 
supported by the Congress of the United States and the people of the 
United States to bring an end to this activity by Saddam Hussein.
  Seven years ago, Congress authorized the President to use military 
force to repel the aggression of Saddam Hussein against Kuwait. Seven 
years ago, U.S. forces, with the full support of the American people, 
freed the people of Kuwait from Iraqi domination. Seven years ago, the 
international community began an inspection and monitoring regime to 
assure that Saddam Hussein could no longer pose a threat to the Gulf 
region and the world community.
  Despite these efforts, Saddam Hussein has defied the clear 
requirements set forth by the United Nations. His repeated refusal to 
allow full inspection and compliance by the United Nations inspectors 
have prevented the readmittance of Iraq into the community of peaceful 
nations. Both the Iraqi people and the entire Gulf region remain 
imperiled by Saddam Hussein's deadly policies.
  Over the past several months, the Iraqi government has increased its 
defiance of the world community. At the same time, it continues to 
pursue unabated development of weapons of mass destruction and 
concealment of those efforts. After months of discussions with the 
Iraqi government by both international organizations and individual 
governments, diplomatic efforts to resolve this matter appear to have 
had little, if any, impact on the regime's behavior. It is therefore 
reasonable to consider the use of military force to ensure that Iraq 
can no longer threaten its neighbors or United States interests in the 
region.
  If we cannot assure this through diplomatic means, we must be 
prepared to ensure this by the other means at our disposal, including 
the use of military force. As this administration contemplates the use 
of military force, I believe that it is necessary for the American 
people, through their Representatives in Congress, to speak on this 
serious matter. The President should have the support of the Congress 
and the public when sending our servicemen and women into harm's way.
  I am very concerned that we have not acted on a resolution of support 
already. Two weeks ago, on the eve of the President's State of the 
Union address, Speaker Gingrich and Majority Leader Lott both pledged 
their support of the President's policy, as the Speaker so eloquently 
said again today. Two weeks later, we are still not having action in 
the Congress on a resolution.
  I urged the Speaker yesterday to bring before the House prior to the 
President's Day recess a resolution supporting all necessary and 
appropriate actions to respond to the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of 
mass destruction program.
  It is now clear that because of time we will not have such a 
resolution before the recess. I, therefore, respectfully call on the 
Republican leadership to bring up bipartisan legislation for 
consideration by the House as soon as possible after the recess. It is 
our responsibility and duty to ensure that Members have an opportunity 
to express support for our men and women in uniform prior to military 
action in the Persian Gulf.
  One hundred and eighty years ago, Thomas Jefferson said, and I quote, 
that ``in a free government, there should be differences of opinion as 
to public measures and the conduct of those who direct them is to be 
expected. It is much, however,'' he said, ``to be lamented that these 
differences should be indulged at a crisis which calls for the 
undivided councils and energies of our country and in a form calculated 
to encourage our enemies.''
  I urge this House to take up this resolution as soon as we come back. 
I believe it is the right thing to do for our country, for our people 
and, most importantly, for the young men and women which we may have in 
harm's way in the days ahead.

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