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This just in, from the NY Times:
October 10, 2002
House Passes Iraq Resolution With 296 to 133 Vote
By CARLA BARANAUCKAS
ringing the United States a step closer to the possibility of war, the House voted 296 to 133 this afternoon to give President Bush the authority to use military force against Iraq.
The resolution gives Mr. Bush the authority to use military force as he determines is appropriate to "defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq" and to "enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions against Iraq."
Speaking at the White House, President Bush said the House vote was something "that all Americans can be proud of."
"The House of Representatives has spoken clearly to the world and to the United Nations Security Council," Mr. Bush said. "The gathering threat of Iraq must be confronted fully and finally.
"Today's vote also sends a clear message to the Iraqi regime. It must disarm and comply with all existing U.N. resolutions or it will be forced to comply. There are no other options for the Iraqi regime. There can be no negotiations. The days of Iraq acting as an outlaw state are coming to an end."
In the House vote, Republicans overwhelmingly backed the resolution, with 215 voting yes. They were joined by 81 Democrats, including the House Democratic leader, Richard Gephardt. Voting no were 126 Democrats, 6 Republicans and 1 independent.
Mr. Bush also said he was pleased with the progress being made in the Senate on the resolution.
Earlier in the day, the Senate voted, 75 to 25, to limit debate on the resolution, meaning a vote could come as early as this evening or by early Friday.
Debate on the resolution, which was sought by President Bush, has been tinged with memories of the terrorist attacks on the United States last year as well as previous wars.
In an address to the nation on Monday night, Mr. Bush said that President Saddam Hussein of Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological weapons, and was seeking nuclear weapons. In addition, Iraq has blocked United Nations inspectors from visiting to determine the type of weapons Iraq is maintaining.
"As a free society we have to defeat dangers before they ripen," Mr. Bush said. "The war on terrorism will be fought here at home unless we summon the will to confront evil before it attacks."
Representative Charles B. Rangel, Democrat of New York, invoked the Korean War, noting that Congress had never voted on that conflict. He said he had pledged to veterans of the Korean War that he would never "delegate the responsibility of considering the danger of war."
"I won't leave it to the president, unless he brings me evidence that we are in danger," Mr. Rangel said. "I won't give it to the United Nations because I don't believe that this sacred responsibility should be transferred."
Expressing concern that an attack on Iraq could unravel the coalition that is fighting terrorism, Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said: "The clear and present danger that our country faces is terrorism. I say flat out that unilateral use of force without first exhausting every diplomatic remedy and other remedies and making a case to the American people will be harmful to our war on terrorism."
In an unusual moment that put two frequent opponents on the same side of an issue the Republican whip and the House Democratic leader both spoke in favor of the resolution at the end of the debate.
The Republican whip, Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, said: "As a free society we have to defeat dangers before they ripen. The war on terrorism will be fought here at home unless we summon the will to confront evil before it attacks."
The House Democratic leader, Representative Richard Gephardt of Missouri, said: "Saddam Hussein's track record is too compelling to ignore. And we know that he continues to develop weapons of mass destruction including nuclear devices. And he may soon have the ability to have a nuclear weapon against other nations.
"I believe we have an obligation to protect the United States by preventing him from getting these weapons and either using them himself or passing them or their components on to terrorists who share his destructive intent."
The Senate's cloture vote came after the majority leader, Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, announced from the Senate floor that he was supporting the resolution. "For me, the deciding factor is my belief that a united Congress will help the president unite the world," Senator Daschle said. "And by uniting the world we can increase the world's chances of succeeding in this effort and reduce both the risks and the costs that America may have to bear."
Senator Daschle had been one of the last holdouts among Democratic leaders, and he said he decided to support the resolution after revisions were made to the original proposal.
"Because this resolution is improved and because I believe that Saddam Hussein represents a real threat and because I believe it is important for America to speak with one voice at this critical moment I will vote to give the president the authority he needs," Mr. Daschle said. "But I respect those who reach different conclusions."
Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia had led the effort to delay a Senate vote until next week.
Earlier in the day, the White House press secretary, Ari Fleischer, commented on the expectation that the resolution would be passed.
"The president has made no decisions about what the next step would be," Mr. Fleischer said. "Clearly, we will continue to talk to the United Nations about the inspection process. And that's where the matter currently stands."
Sigh.
It's an inevitable now, eh? |
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