Senate approves Iraq war resolution- Bush "America speaks with one voice."

[Q]

Senate approves Iraq war resolution

Administration applauds vote

Friday, October 11, 2002 Posted: 12:35 PM EDT (1635 GMT)

EXCERPTS:


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 destruction as required by U.N. resolutions. Hours earlier, the House approved an identical resolution, 296-133.

The president praised the congressional action, declaring "America speaks with one voice."

"The Congress has spoken clearly to the international community and the United Nations Security Council," Bush 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."

The Bush administration and its supporters in Congress say Saddam has kept a stockpile of chemical and biological weapons in violation of U.N. resolutions and has continued efforts to develop nuclear weapons. Bush also has argued that Iraq could give chemical or biological weapons to terrorists. Iraq has denied having weapons of mass destruction and has offered to allow U.N. weapons inspectors to return for the first time since 1998. Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Tawab Al-Mulah Huwaish called the allegations "lies" Thursday and offered to let U.S. officials inspect plants they say are developing nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

"If the American administration is interested in inspecting these sites, then they're welcome to come over and have a look for themselves," he said. The White House immediately rejected the offer, saying the matter is up to the United Nations, not Iraq.

The Senate vote sharply divided Democrats, with 29 voting for the measure and 21 against. All Republicans except Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island voted for passage.

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, attempted Thursday to mount a filibuster against the resolution but was cut off on a 75 to 25 vote.

Byrd had argued the resolution amounted to a "blank check" for the White House.


http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/11/iraq.us/

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Bob Woodward reiterated Byrd's "blank check" remark.

in "Plan of Attack".

Sadly, that is exactly how I saw the resolution. At the time, I kept posting that * was opening "Pandora's Box". Not in the mood to find a long-ago link, but I said it over and over again.

[Q]

3. Byrd said it and everyone knew it...

...but politicians lined up to sign the blank check. They signed it...not because Iraq posed a threat to the US or any other country. They signed it for the worst of reasons: to 'look' patriotic and advance their political careers.

- 21 Democrats didn't sign on to this aggressive war. That's nearly half of the Dem Senate and it shows that there is at least hope that some Democrats understand that it's WRONG to send troops into harm's way unless it's the LAST RESORT.

[Old and In the Way]

2. "if Saddam Hussein refuses to give up weapons of mass destruction "

Is the operative phrase, IMHO. Bush didn't let the inspector's finish the job. The war is Bush's folly.

[Q]

4. Or...the operative phrase is BUSH DECLARES VICTORY...

...and from that point on he was able to say that 'America speaks with one voice'...even though literally millions of Americans and people around the world were against it.

- The 'war' may be Bush's* folly...but it's also OUR folly because we signed on to it and find ourselves in a position of looking like hypocrites if we 'cut and run'. It's a replay of Vietnam, but we just can't see that yet.