Lawmakers: Saddam Capture May Help U.S. Aid Quest
Sun Dec 14, 3:28 PM ET
By Donna Smith
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s capture could help sway world opinion to be more supportive of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq (news - web sites) and give a boost to U.S. efforts to draw more international financial aid for reconstruction, U.S. lawmakers said on Sunday.
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News of Saddam's capture in Iraq came as U.S. envoy James Baker prepared to leave this week on a mission to Europe to seek relief for Iraq's crushing $120 billion in debt.
"That diplomacy has some momentum at this point," Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican said on ABC's "This Week."
Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican who has urged President Bush (news - web sites) to beef up U.S. troops in Iraq, said a public trial of Saddam that exposed atrocities under his regime could help sway world opinion to be more supportive of the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the former Iraqi leader.
"I hope once the trial begins and the exposition of the extent of this despot's crimes are known to our European friends and people around the world, it will further justify our actions in Iraq," McCain said on ABC.
South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said on Fox News that it was "imperative" the international community forgive every dime of Iraq's debt.
"We don't need congratulations, we need partners. Now is the chance to come contribute instead of complain," Graham said.
Baker, a trusted friend of Bush, is expected to encounter some anger in Europe over the U.S. handling of the war and a recent Washington announcement that countries that did not support the U.S. invasion -- France, Germany and Russia -- would be excluded from $18.6 billion in U.S.-funded construction contracts for Iraq.
Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Arlen Specter said that Baker could use the possibility of lucrative contracts to win support for debt relief, even though they opposed the war.
"There would be some money for the French, the Germans, the Russians," Specter said on CNN. "They do not deserve it."
Democrats said Saddam's capture presented a fresh opportunity for Bush to internationalize the occupation and reconstruction of Iraq.
Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said rebuilding Iraq will take billions of dollars and thousands of troops and the Bush administration should use Saddam's capture to renew efforts to build more international support.
Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean (news - web sites) said Bush should use Saddam's capture to reach out to other countries to help with the reconstruction and contribute troops so the United States could reduce its forces in Iraq.
"This is a real opportunity to internationalize the effort in Iraq," said Dean, who is considered the front runner for the Democratic nomination to challenge Bush in next year's presidential elections. |
