Did Congress Declare War Agains Iraq in 2003
Senate approves Iraq war resolution
Administration applauds vote
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a major victory for the White House, the Senate early Friday voted 77-23 to authorize President Bush to attack Iraq if Saddam Hussein refuses to give up weapons of mass devastation as required past U.Due north. resolutions.
Hours earlier, the House canonical an identical resolution, 296-133.
The president praised the congressional action, declaring "America speaks with one vocalization."
"The Congress has spoken clearly to the international customs and the United Nations Security Council," Bush-league said in a statement. "Saddam Hussein and his outlaw regime pose a grave threat to the region, the world and the United States. Inaction is not an option, disarmament is a must."
While the outcome of the vote was never in doubt, its passage followed several days of spirited debate in which a small but vocal group of lawmakers charged the resolution was too wide and premature.
The resolution requires Bush to declare to Congress either before or within 48 hours after showtime military machine activity that diplomatic efforts to enforce the U.N. resolutions have failed.
Bush also must certify that activeness against Iraq would not hinder efforts to pursue the al Qaeda terrorist network that attacked New York and Washington concluding year. And information technology requires the administration to report to Congress on the progress of any war with Iraq every threescore days.
The measure out passed the Senate and Business firm past wider margins than the 1991 resolution that empowered the current president's father to go to war to expel Iraq from Kuwait. That measure passed 250-183 in the House and 52-47 in the Senate.
The Bush assistants and its supporters in Congress say Saddam has kept a stockpile of chemical and biological weapons in violation of U.Northward. resolutions and has continued efforts to develop nuclear weapons. Bush also has argued that Iraq could requite chemical or biological weapons to terrorists.
Iraq has denied having weapons of mass destruction and has offered to allow U.Due north. weapons inspectors to return for the first time since 1998. Deputy Prime number Minister Abdul Tawab Al-Mulah Huwaish chosen the allegations "lies" Thursday and offered to allow U.South. officials inspect plants they say are developing nuclear, biological and chemic weapons.
"If the American assistants is interested in inspecting these sites, and then they're welcome to come over and have a look for themselves," he said.
The White House immediately rejected the offering, maxim the matter is up to the United Nations, not Iraq.
Resolution sharply divides Democrats
The Senate vote sharply divided Democrats, with 29 voting for the measure out and 21 against. All Republicans except Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Isle voted for passage.
Ahead of the vote, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle appear Th morning he would back up Bush-league on Iraq, proverb it is of import for the country "to speak with 1 vocalisation at this critical moment."
Daschle, D-South Dakota, said the threat of Iraq's weapons programs "may non be imminent. But information technology is real. It is growing. And it cannot exist ignored." However, he urged Bush to motility "in a way that avoids making a dangerous situation even worse."
Daschle had expressed reservations about a possible U.Southward. assault on Republic of iraq, and he was not part of an agreement between the White Business firm and other congressional leaders framing the resolution last calendar week.
Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, attempted Thursday to mountain a delay confronting the resolution but was cut off on a 75 to 25 vote.
Byrd had argued the resolution amounted to a "blank cheque" for the White House.
"This is the Tonkin Gulf resolution all over again," Byrd said. "Let us finish, look and listen. Allow u.s.a. not give this president or any president unchecked ability. Remember the Constitution."
But Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said the Us needs to move before Saddam can develop a more advanced armory.
"Giving peace a chance only gives Saddam Hussein more time to prepare for state of war on his terms, at a time of his choosing, in pursuit of ambitions that will merely grow as his ability to reach them grows," McCain said.
In the Business firm, half dozen Republicans -- Ron Paul of Texas; Connie Morella of Maryland; Jim Leach of Iowa; Amo Houghton of New York; John Hostettler of Indiana; and John Duncan of Tennessee -- joined 126 Democrats in voting confronting the resolution.
Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Missouri, said giving Bush-league the authority to assault Republic of iraq could avert state of war by demonstrating the U.s.a. is willing to face Saddam over his obligations to the Un.
"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 subversive intent," said Gephardt, who helped draft the mensurate.
But Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, said the 133 votes against the measure were "a very potent message" to the assistants.
"All across this state Americans are insisting on a peaceful resolution of matters in Iraq," he said. "All across this country, Americans are looking towards the United states to exist a nation among nations, working through the Un to help resolve this crisis."
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Source: https://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/11/iraq.us/
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