[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H6562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
U.N. MUST PASS STRONG RESOLUTION ON IRAQ
(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, last week we heard Iraq agree to allowing
U.N. weapons inspectors back into their country without conditions. All
I can say is we have been down this road before.
Mr. Speaker, the United Nations must show real backbone if they want
to be a meaningful organization in the 21st century. Unfortunately, we
have had a decade of defiance and deception from Iraq. Let us not
forget that between 1991 and 1998, in spite of 13, yes, 13 different
U.N. resolutions mandating unconditional access, Iraq never allowed
that to happen.
Saddam always had conditions. Inspectors were kept from presidential
palaces, mosques and military installations, just to name a few
locations.
The U.N. must pass a resolution that not only mandates unconditional
weapons inspections, but also outlines the serious consequences for
Saddam if Iraq fails to act and fails to allow U.N. inspectors to do
their complete and unfettered job. 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.
____________________