[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 119 (Thursday, September 19, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H6408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
U.N. MUST PASS RESOLUTION
(Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, recently Iraq agreed to allow U.N.
inspectors back into their country without conditions. After hearing
that news, all I can say is we have been down this road before.
After a decade of deception by Iraq, the United Nations must show
some real backbone if it wants to be a meaningful organization in the
21st century. Let us not forget that from 1991 to 1998, in spite of 13
different U.N. resolutions mandating unconditional access, Iraq never
allowed that to happen. Saddam always had his conditions. Inspectors
were kept from presidential palaces, mosques, and military
installations, just to name a few places where we know he hides
weapons.
The U.N. must pass a resolution that not only mandates unconditional
weapons inspections, but also outlines the serious consequences for
Saddam's Iraq if the U.N. inspectors do not get complete and unimpeded
access and support.
The U.N. must take control and mandate unfettered inspections, and
Saddam Hussein must comply. It is time for the U.N., and not Saddam
Hussein, to be in the driver's seat.
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