[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 18, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H1912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE PRESIDENT'S COMPELLING CASE

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, last night the President laid out a 
compelling case for immediate action against Saddam Hussein. After 12 
years of denial and deception, trust in his sanity and in his restraint 
is not an option. The President addressed not only the American people 
but the Iraqi people, not only our military but its military. And he 
made it clear that our problem is not with the Iraqi people, that we do 
not want to harm the Iraqi people, that we will help the Iraqi people 
rebuild their great country.
  Our problem is with Saddam Hussein. He has chosen this moment. He 
chose to deny and deceive the international community for 12 years. He 
chose to use chemical and biological weapons on his own people, and he 
chose to engage in mass murder. Now he has one last choice: go into 
exile or be removed and disarmed by force. If he chooses force, America 
and other free nations must forcibly remove him, his murderous regime 
and his arsenal. Our military will take great care to spare the lives 
of innocent Iraqis. My hope and prayer is that the Iraqi dictator will 
take action to do the same.

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