Wednesday, October 9, 2002

Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to discuss the very serious matter that is before us today and this week. This is, I trust, going to be a very somber discussion as we had approximately 11 years ago when this body approved the actions which led to Desert Storm. Unfortunately, at that time we did not solve the problems confronting us as a result of Saddam Hussein and his murderous regime in Iraq.

As we move toward a resolution authorizing the use of force against the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, let us be clear about the intent. This resolution we will send a clear message to the world community and to the Iraqi regime that the demands of the United Nations Security Council must be followed. Saddam Hussein must be disarmed.

For over a decade now we have tried every means of diplomacy, sanctions, and inspections to encourage Saddam to keep the promises that he made after the gulf war. Nothing has worked. Saddam has made a mockery of the United Nations resolutions and the threat he now poses to the world is significant and growing.

President Bush stated last night that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is a ``murderous tyrant'' who could attack the United States ``on any given day'' using unmanned aerial vehicles loaded with chemical or biological weapons. Iraq is unique. By its past and present actions, by its technological capabilities, by the merciless nature of its regime, Iraq is unique. Iraq is a true present danger to the United States. As a former chief weapons inspector of the U.N. has said:

The fundamental problem with Iraq remains the nature of the regime, itself. Saddam Hussein is a homicidal dictator who is addicted to weapons of mass destruction.

The Iraqi regime possesses biological and chemical weapons, is rebuilding the facilities to make more and, according to the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, could launch a biological or chemical attack in as little as 45 minutes after the order is given. The regime has long-standing and continuing ties to terrorist groups, and we now know that there are al Qaeda terrorists inside Iraq. In fact, senior members of the Iraqi government and members of the al Qaeda network have been in contact for many years. This regime is seeking a nuclear weapon and the delivery capability to go with it.

There have been reports in the past from Desert Storm that rather than having the acquisition of a nuclear weapon years in advance, it could have been within a year that they could have developed a nuclear weapon. Had he waited until he had that nuclear device before he invaded Kuwait, we would have been in a far different position as we attempted at that time to expel him from Kuwait. The Iraqi dictator has answered a decade of resolutions with a decade of defiance. In the Southern and Northern No-fly zones over Iraq, coalition aircraft continue to be fired on and coalition pilots continue to put their lives on the line to enforce these resolutions.

There is an ongoing war that Saddam Hussein has carried out against the coalition which is seeking to enforce United Nations resolutions. Just this year alone, coalition aircraft have been fired on over 400 times. Since Saddam Hussein made what I believe, from past experience, will be shown to be a hollow promise to cooperate with the United Nations, they have fired on coalition aircraft more than 47 times. Saddam Hussein is a master at saying one thing and doing another.

As President Bush has stated in the past: The Iraqi regime is led by a dangerous and brutal man. We know he is actively seeking the destructive technologies to match his hatred. And we know that he must be stopped. The dangers we face will only worsen from month to month and year to year. To ignore these threats is to encourage them--and when they have fully materialized, it may be too late to protect ourselves and our allies. By then, the Iraqi dictator will have had the means to terrorize and dominate the region, and each passing day could be the one on which the Iraqi regime gives anthrax or VX nerve gas or someday a nuclear weapon to a terrorist group.

The mantle of leadership requires this body to act. We have seen the results of a decade of speaking loudly and carrying a soft stick. We have pointed out, in past years, the danger of this regime. We have called for changes. We have asked the United Nations to strengthen its resolutions. We have asked Saddam Hussein to readmit inspectors to assure us there are no deadly weapons of mass destruction being stockpiled. We have been rejected at all points. Let us act now and pass this resolution in support of our President. This resolution is needed to send an important signal to our allies and to the United Nations. With our leadership, I am convinced the President will build a robust coalition to say no to Saddam Hussein. It will tell the world we are serious about disarmament, and it will reaffirm our message to Saddam Hussein.

Approving this resolution does not mean military action is imminent or unavoidable. The resolution will tell the United Nations and all nations America speaks with one voice and is determined to make the demands of the civilized world mean something.

If we do not act, then we face the terrible dangers of an attack with weapons of mass destruction. If the United Nations does not act, it faces the prospect of joining the League of Nations on the dustbin of history: an international organization, organized with the highest purposes, and by its inaction shown to be ineffective.

I believe and I trust we will give a strong vote, a bipartisan vote, in support of this resolution. I believe building on that resolution we will build a coalition, and our world will be a safer place, even though we have to take the risks that are necessary and that come with this resolution in order to secure that safety and that peace for ourselves, our children, and our future.

Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I look forward to working with them on this matter.

I thank the Chair and yield the floor.