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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group

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To: JohnM who wrote (46287)	9/22/2002 10:04:29 PM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) of 281500

A View From 'The Heartlands'... Here's what the Editorial Board of Iowa's largest newspaper is saying about the Iraq situation... Editorial: No blank check for war Congress shouldn't delegate its war-making power to the president. By The Des Moines Register Editorial Board 09/20/2002 desmoinesregister.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- President Bush is asking Congress for a resolution that would give him "maximum flexibility" to proceed against Iraq. In effect, he wants Congress to delegate to him the power to make war. That it should not do. The Constitution places the power to declare war with Congress, not the president. Bush wants permission to attack Iraq at any time of his choosing, with or without the United Nations' support and apparently without further consultations with Congress. He said passage of a resolution "is a chance for Congress to indicate support" and show world leaders as well as Americans that he wouldn't be acting unilaterally in striking Iraq. It would be appropriate for Congress to pass a resolution indicating support for the president's demands that the United Nations hold Iraq to its promises to permit inspections and to disarm. But there should be an understanding that no American will be sent into combat without further congressional approval. When it becomes clear that Iraq is not abiding by its promise to permit comprehensive and unconditional inspections, that's the point at which Bush should return to Congress, ask for a declaration of war and make the case that it is warranted. The president is moving so quickly toward positioning the United States to engage in a war, it's easy to forget that he's never demonstrated an imminent danger to the United States that justifies a pre-emptive attack on Iraq. It's the duty of Congress to act as a check on the power of a president. Giving Bush carte blanche just to appear unified to the world would be irresponsible. The American people depend on their elected officials to demand clear and convincing assurances that military action can't be avoided. That simply hasn't been done. Instead, the country is left with a lot of "maybes." Maybe there's a link between Iraq and Sept. 11, but there's no evidence. Maybe Saddam Hussein possesses weapons and has the means of delivering them, but there's no proof. Maybe the United States would be successful in ousting Saddam, but there is no assurance his successors would be any better in the long run. Maybe Saddam can be toppled without setting off chaos throughout the Middle East. Maybe the United States can occupy Iraq and succeed in building a democracy in a multiethnic region that has no experience with democracy in its 6,000-year history. A lot of maybes. Congress should insist on evidence that Saddam Hussein is a clear and present danger before granting authority to proceed with war.

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