Shrub lied about the threat Iraq posed and linked it repeatedly to terrorism, 911 and AQ. Now the admin gets out and says (finally) that there's no connection. Ooops.
whitehouse.gov
"...the risk that the current Iraqi regime will either employ those weapons to launch a surprise attack against the United States or its Armed Forces or provide them to international terrorists who would do so, and the extreme magnitude of harm that would result to the United States and its citizens from such an attack, combine to justify action by the United States to defend itself...
to compel Iraq to cease certain activities that threaten international peace and security, including the development of weapons of mass destruction...
President Bush committed the United States to "work with the United Nations Security Council to meet our common challenge" posed by Iraq and to "work for the necessary resolutions," while also making clear that "the Security Council resolutions will be enforced...
The Congress of the United States supports the efforts by the President to--
(a) strictly enforce through the United Nations Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions applicable to Iraq and encourages him in those efforts; and
(b) obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions.
1) reliance by the United States on further diplomatic or other peaceful means alone either (A) will not adequately protect the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq or (B) is not likely to lead to enforcement of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq, and
(2) acting pursuant to this resolution is consistent with the United States and other countries continuing to take the necessary actions against international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorists attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001...."
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"...Some who voted last October for the resolution authorizing Bush to use military force in Iraq voted against providing the $87 billion, saying they wanted to signal their disapproval of the way the president is handling the postwar situation.
Other lawmakers who had voted against the war resolution supported the supplemental spending. They argued the United States should not abandon Iraq, a nation beset by bombings, shootings, and the lack of adequate services such as electricity.
Republicans normally wary of foreign aid gritted their teeth and voted to back the president; deficit hawks who favored the war sought to rein in the spending and monitor the contracting for reconstruction work more closely.
boston.com |
