[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 161 (Monday, December 15, 1997)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E2414-E2415] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING IRAQ ______ HON. TOM LANTOS of california in the house of representatives Thursday, November 13, 1997 Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives late today approved House Resolution 322, which places this body on record in favor of using force against Iraq if that is necessary in order to compel Iraq to comply with U.N. Security Council resolutions which call for the elimination of Iraq's capability to produce nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons and missiles capable of delivering [[Page E2415]] such weapons. While my resolution specifies that efforts should be made to resolve the problems peacefully through diplomatic means, it makes clear that if such efforts fail, the Congress supports the use of military force. The bottom line, Mr. Speaker, is that we must be certain that we eliminate Saddam Hussein's ability to produce weapons of mass destruction and the missiles which deliver them. Our resolution makes that objective clear. If we can do that peacefully through active diplomacy, that clearly is the course we should take. If diplomacy fails, however, we should use force--through multilateral cooperation with our allies, if that can be done, but unilaterally if that is our only remaining option. The purpose of this resolution is to make it completely clear and unequivocal to Saddam Hussein and his government that the Congress supports the use of military force if that is required. There must be no doubt about the importance of continuing inspections as called for under U.N. Security Council decisions, and there must be no doubt about the resolve of the U.S. Government and of the support of the American people to take military action if that should become necessary. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Speaker, the majority leader, and the minority leader for their support and assistance in the adoption of this resolution. I also want to thank my friend and colleague from New York, the distinguished chairman of the International Relations Committee, Mr. Gilman, for joining me as the principal cosponsor of this resolution and for his bringing this resolution before the International Relations Committee earlier this morning. I also want to thank my friend and colleague from Indiana, the distinguished ranking Democratic member of the International Relations Committee, Mr. Hamilton, for his strong support of the resolution and for joining as a cosponsor. Mr. Speaker, also joining as cosponsors of this resolution are a number of our colleagues: Mr. Goss of Florida, the chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Mr. Yates, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Skelton, Mr. Sisisky, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Spratt, Mr. Horn, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Rothman, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Foley, and Mr. Waxman. The text of our resolution as it was adopted here in the House is as follows: H. Res. 322 Expressing the sense of the House that the United States should act to resolve this crisis with Iraq in a manner that assures full Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding the destruction of Iraq's capability to produce and deliver weapons of mass destruction, and that peaceful and diplomatic efforts should be pursued, but that is such efforts fail, multilateral military action or unilateral United States military action should be taken. Whereas at the conclusion of the Gulf War the United States and the United Nations, acting through the Security Council, determined to find and destroy all of Iraq's capability to produce chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons and its ability to produce missiles capable of delivering such weapons of mass destruction; Whereas in pursuit of this goal, the United Nations set up a special multinational commission of experts to oversee the completion of this task (the United Nations Special Commission--UNSCOM), and that task could and should have been accomplished within a matter of months if Iraq had cooperated with United Nations officials; Whereas sanctions were imposed upon Iraq to insure its compliance with United Nations directives to eliminate its capability to produce weapons of mass destruction; Whereas for 6\1/2\ years Iraq has pursued a policy of deception, lies, concealment, harassment, and intimidation in a deliberate effort to hamper the work of UNSCOM in eliminating Iraq's ability to produce and deliver weapons of mass destruction; and Whereas recently the Government of Iraq has escalated its policy of noncompliance and continues to breach in a material way United Nations Security Council resolutions by refusing to permit United States citizens who are recognized specialists to participate as members of UNSCOM teams in carrying out in Iraq actions to implement Security Council resolutions: Now therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that-- (1) the current crisis regarding Iraq should be resolved peacefully through diplomatic means but in a manner which assures full Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding the destruction of Iraq's capability to produce and deliver weapons of mass destruction; (2) in the event that military means are necessary to compel Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, such military action should be undertaken with the broadest feasible multinational support, preferably pursuant to a decision of the United Nations Security Council; and (3) if it is necessary, however, the United States should take military action unilaterally to compel Iraqi compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. ____________________