Democrats Back Plan to Oust Saddam
Mon Jun 17, 9:53 AM ET
By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Saddam Hussein ( news - web sites) should be
forced from power, three prominent Democratic lawmakers said amid
disclosure of a presidential order giving the CIA ( news - web sites)
broader discretion to take action against the Iraqi leader.
"If Saddam Hussein's around five years from
now, we've failed," said Sen. Joseph R. Biden,
Jr., D-Del., chairman of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee.
Asked if the plan to give the CIA broader
authority had given him any pause, Biden said,
"Only if it doesn't work."
Support for enlarging the CIA's role against Iraq
came Sunday from three potential Democratic
presidential candidates in 2004: Biden on CBS'
"Face the Nation," Senate Majority Leader Tom
Daschle of South Dakota on "Fox News
Sunday" and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri on
ABC's "This Week."
President Bush ( news - web sites) signed an order early this year
directing the CIA to increase support to Iraqi opposition groups and
expand intelligence collection efforts within the Iraqi government, The
Washington Post reported Sunday. It said the plan also calls for possible
use of CIA and U.S. Special Forces teams to capture Saddam, and to kill
him if the teams are acting in self-defense.
The administration "is trying to bring about a change in regime. ... I think it
is an appropriate action to take," Gephardt said.
The Democrats, along with Republicans in Congress, cited Saddam's
alleged pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and violations of United
Nations ( news - web sites) resolutions and international law as
justification for such a move.
Daschle said he is satisfied with the degree of consultation so far between
the administration and Congress on the plan boosting the CIA's role.
Bush's order to the CIA is part of a larger discussion about how to
proceed against Iraq.
"There is broad support for a regime change in Iraq" and "we want to
work with the administration and try to find the best way and the best
time to do this," the Senate leader said. "Do we keep our eye on the ball in
terms of al-Qaida (terror network) to collapse? Can we work in the
Middle East in a constructive way? ... The timing of this is very
important."
Biden said, "I know of three distinct plans being discussed within the administration and three distinct
points of view as to how to proceed."
Congressional Republicans also offered support for steps short of war such as the order involving the
CIA.
"We need a regime change in Iraq. If we can do it on the cheap ... that's fine," Sen. John McCain ( news,
bio, voting record), R-Ariz., said on "Face the Nation."
Bush administration officials declined to discuss the plan.
On other terrorism-related issues:
_House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, said Congress may be able to pass legislation to create a
homeland security department by the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. "This is a big deal. It's a
big job. And we will have to work together," Armey told ABC. He chairs a special committee to oversee
and finalize the legislation.
_Alleged dirty-bomb suspect Jose Padilla wasn't found by U.S. officials until less than 48 hours before his
arrest May 8, Newsweek magazine reported. U.S. officials found him after a search of itineraries of
thousands of passengers traveling toward the United States.
_Padilla allegedly gave al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden ( news - web sites)'s operations chief, Abu
Zubaydah, a proposal to build a full-fledged nuclear device, Time magazine reported. Zubaydah
apparently cautioned Padilla to think smaller, resulting in the alleged plan for a dirty bomb, it said.
Zubaydah was captured in Pakistan in March and is in U.S. custody. |
