|
Today, I joined with a majority of my colleagues in the House of Representatives
to vote to authorize the President to use military force against Iraq if
Saddam Hussein refuses to disarm his weapons of mass destruction. The proposal,
which I worked with the President to develop, was approved 296-133 in a
bi-partisan vote this afternoon. I have worked hard in the last few days
and weeks to convince my colleagues to support this proposal due to the
overwhelming evidence I have seen, which has convinced me of the clear
and present threat posed by Hussein.
The resolution that we passed today does not make the use of military
force inevitable. Instead, this proposal would grant President Bush broad
powers to use military force against the current Iraqi regime if and when
he deems it necessary. The use of force will only be necessary if Hussein
continues to develop these weapons of mass destruction and proliferate
terror around the globe. In the end, the choice belongs to the Iraqi leader
and today's vote sends a clear message that the United States is serious.
I thank my colleagues who supported this measure because I believe that
it is necessary to ensure the protection of the United States. I expect
that the Senate will join with the house in approving this measure before
the end of this week. |
|
