[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H6686-H6687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IRAQ AND THE WAR ON TERRORISM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Grucci) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, on September 20, 2001, before a joint 
session of Congress, President Bush declared, and I quote, our war on 
terror begins with al Qaeda but it does not end there. It will not end 
until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and 
defeated. This principle rallied the world to support the war on 
terrorism. Today, we must remind ourselves of this principle as America 
considers action against Iraq. We must remember that the actions of 
Saddam Hussein are nothing short of terrorism. Until he is removed from 
a position of power and influence, Americans will not be safe and the 
war on terrorism will not be won.
  On September 16, 2002, Iraq delivered a letter to the United Nations 
allowing U.N. weapons inspectors unconditional access to Iraq. While 
the recent letter from Iraq may be received as good news by some, it is 
important to place this action in the appropriate historical 
perspective.
  A quick reminder of 1998 when Saddam Hussein forced weapons 
inspectors out of Iraq is enough to understand that the latest move is 
nothing more than theatrics that will only give Iraq additional time to 
stockpile and hide weapons of mass destruction to avoid detection.
  In May of 1991, Iraq accepted United Nations resolution 687, giving 
inspectors unconditional access to Iraq. In the years that followed, 
Iraq contradicted their unconditional pledge to support resolution 687 
with the following actions:
  June of 1991, Iraqi personnel prevent inspectors from approaching by 
firing warning shots.
  October of 1991, Iraq refuses to accept United Nations resolution 715 
calling for additional unconditional access for inspectors.

[[Page H6687]]

  February of 1992, Iraq refuses to allow the destruction of certain 
facilities used in weapons programs.
  April of 1992, Iraq calls for the end of surveillance flights and 
threatens the safety of pilots.
  June of 1993, Iraq refuses to allow remote controlled monitoring 
cameras at two missile engine sites.
  March of 1996, Iraq refuses access to five inspection sites 
designated for inspection.
  June of 1996, Iraq denies access to sites under investigation.
  June of 1996, Iraq denies access to another inspection team.
  November of 1996, Iraq refuses to allow inspectors to remove missile 
remnants for analysis.
  June of 1997, Iraqi personnel attempt to physically prevent a 
helicopter pilot from flying to inspection areas.
  June of 1997, Iraq denies access to inspection sites.
  September of 1997, an Iraqi officer attacks inspectors photographing 
unauthorized movements of Iraqi vehicles.
  August of 1998, Iraq announces that they will refuse to agree to any 
United Nations resolutions until the oil embargo is lifted.
  In fact, Iraq has violated 16 United Nations resolutions and 
sanctions. Sadly, I believe that future inspections will once again be 
met with blatant defiance and further problems.
  Removing Saddam's weapons of mass destruction will only occur when we 
remove Saddam Hussein. Just in the last several days, Iraq stated that 
it will not accept any new United Nations resolutions. Furthermore, 
Iraqi officials have already started adding conditions to their 
allowance of unconditional access.
  We must not allow ourselves to be led down that same path of 
noncooperation that Iraq has led the world down in the past. We do not 
need to look beyond Iraqi defectors, many from within Saddam's nuclear 
program, to learn that Saddam Hussein is dangerously close to obtaining 
nuclear weapons and has advanced considerably in his biological and 
chemical weapons programs. I do not believe that we should have to wait 
for another United States city to be devastated, a military base to be 
targeted or even to be attacked in order to respond to the threat of 
Saddam Hussein. Every minute we delay only brings this enormous threat 
closer to reality.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud the President's actions to come to the 
Congress and seek the Congress's approval. As freedom-loving nations 
continue to eliminate international terrorism, this war will not end 
until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and 
defeated.

                          ____________________