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Senate: It's Too Early for U.S. Attack on Iraq
Monday, April 29, 2002
By Philip Brasher
Associated Press Writer

In celebration of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's 65th birthday, thousands of people marched through the streets of Baghdad.
Image Credit: Jassim Mohammed -- The Associated Press.

The administration faces the question of where to base U.S. forces in the region for an attack on Iraq, given the likelihood that Saudi Arabia would deny the use of its territory. "The military operation, the reason for it, is to assure that Iraq doesn't have weapons of mass destruction. The best way to assure that is to have inspectors," al-Faisal said. Iraq claims it has dismantled all such weapons.

WASHINGTON -- AP
Senate leaders said Sunday there is broad support for toppling Saddam Hussein but that it is too early to take military action against Iraq.

"We've got to win the war on terror, we've got to stabilize Afghanistan. We have to do all that we can to ensure that we succeed there before we take on another mission," Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said.

The Bush administration has not disclosed any plans to attack Iraq, or the scope of such a campaign.

Daschle, D-S.D., said on ABC's This Week that there is "strong bipartisan support" and "probably world support" for ousting Saddam.

Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said that the United States needs to first bolster opposition to Saddam among Iraqis inside and outside that country. "There's a lot more we could be doing," he said on Fox News Sunday.
(More: The Detroit News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

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