Further Consideration For H. RES. 114, Authorization For Use Of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution Of 2002

House of Representatives - October 09, 2002

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, the resolution that will come before us for final passage has already been written at the White House. I very much wish that it had a different phraseology, but that is not the choice of individual Members. The only question that will come before us that we can influence as individual Members is by what margin does that resolution pass. Does it get 325 votes, or 375, or somewhere in between?

Saddam Hussein does not fully understand our political process. He sees a nation in the throws of an election where we speak quite harshly to each other on domestic issues, and we will be doing more of that in the coming weeks. There is no better way to assure that Saddam capitulates on the issue of inspectors, no better way to assure that this war does not have to be fought, no better way to assure a peaceful resolution of this conflict than for us to pass this resolution by the largest possible margin and make sure that Saddam understands that America is united and capitulation on the issue of inspectors is the only rational course and the only course that will assure his own personal safety.

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds to respond to the comments made by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon), who pointed out that our actions against Saddam during the 1990s were not as aggressive as they should have been.

I would point out that we were also not aggressive until September 11 of the prior year. Both administrations failed to grasp the importance of Saddam Hussein's weapons program until September 11 of last year.

I would also point out that when the prior administration did take military action against Saddam Hussein, it did not receive the level of support and unified support that it should have.