[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 23 (Monday, March 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1549-S1550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENT MADE BY U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN

  Mr. ASHCROFT. Mr. President, I rise to address the disturbing 
comments made yesterday by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. 
Apparently emboldened by his recent agreement with Saddam Hussein, 
Annan stated on ABC's ``This Week'' that the United States would have 
to consult with the Security Council before launching military strikes 
against Saddam Hussein.
  He stated:

       If the United States had to strike, I think some sort of 
     consultations with the other members would be required.

  Let me state categorically that the United States does not require 
the permission of the United Nations to use our military forces in the 
pursuit of our national interests. Nor does the United Nations have any 
authority to require that the United States use our military forces if 
it would seek to deploy them.
  The United States has never, at any time, ceded to the United Nations 
any power to require the deployment of American forces against the 
wishes or the judgment of the United States, nor have we ceded to the 
United Nations any power to forbid the use of our military force.
  Mr. President, the comments by Secretary General Annan over the 
weekend are indicative of a growing arrogance of a United Nations that 
has grown accustomed to dictating American foreign policy toward Iraq. 
With U.S. policy toward Iraq in drift over the last 6 years, Secretary 
General Annan was able to take the lead in dealing with Saddam's 
provocations. What has the United Nations achieved? Has Saddam been 
punished? Have his weapons of mass destruction been destroyed?
  On the contrary, Saddam is stronger today than he was before 
instigating the crisis 4 months ago. He is better off across the board 
militarily, politically, and economically. He has blocked weapons 
inspections and moved weapons technology and equipment for several 
months. He has won greater prestige in the region and in the Arab world 
generally. He will be allowed to sell more oil. There is growing talk 
of dismantling the rest of the sanctions regime.
  The administration has compared Saddam to Hitler, but the President's 
policies are laying the groundwork for another Munich in the Persian 
Gulf. Saddam is the chief terrorist of a terrorist government whose 
weapons of mass destruction threaten the United States and our allies 
in the Middle East. The administration seems pleased, however, to make 
concessions to Saddam through the United Nations. More oil sales and a 
politicized inspection regime for Presidential sites in Iraq have meant 
victory for Saddam.
  Mr. President, the absence of Presidential leadership on Iraq has not 
served the United States well in the

[[Page S1550]]

Middle East. Statements by the U.N. Secretary General that imply U.N. 
oversight of U.S. military forces are indicative of U.N. arrogance and 
disrespect for U.S. sovereignty. The deployment of our forces to defend 
our national interests is not subject to the approval of the United 
Nations or any other multinational organization.
  I intend to place before the Senate an opportunity for the body to 
state clearly the ability of the United States to make decisions about 
the deployment of its forces, without regard to, or prior consent from, 
the Security Council or any other international organization. I believe 
it is imperative that we make it clear that the United States will not 
cede any measure of sovereign control of its Armed Forces to the United 
Nations.
  The Constitution charges the President with the duties of Commander 
in Chief, and it is time for this administration to defend America's 
interests with clarity and resolve. The drift and inconsistency that 
has defined this administration's Iraq policy over the last 6 years 
will only be perpetuated by subcontracting U.S. foreign policy to the 
United Nations.
  If we continue to drift, Mr. President, the President of the United 
States will find himself asking permission of U.N. bureaucrats before 
he takes action to secure the interests of the United States. That 
cannot be allowed.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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