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Bush Vows to Seek Congress' Iraq OK
Wednesday, September 04, 2002
(12:35 PM ET)
By Sandra Sobieraj
Associated Press Writer

"For 11 long years, Saddam Hussein has sidestepped, crawfished, wheedled out of any agreements he had made not to develop weapons of mass destruction," the president said. "So I'm going to call upon the world to recognize that he is stiffing the world. And I will lay out and I will talk about ways to make sure he follows up on his agreements."

WASHINGTON -- AP
President Bush, opening a public-relations offensive against Saddam Hussein, pledged Wednesday to seek congressional approval before taking action against the Iraqi leader and warned wary allies their "credibility is at stake" as they decide whether to back the United States.

The president will argue his case before the United Nations General Assembly next week after a weekend huddle at Camp David with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, virtually alone among overseas leaders in supporting Bush's intent to see Saddam overthrown.

"Saddam Hussein is a serious threat. He is a significant problem and something the country must deal with," Bush said after meeting with congressional leaders at the White House. "Doing nothing about that serious threat is not an option for the United States."

The president is strongly considering a U.N. Security Council resolution that would set a deadline for Iraq to open its weapons sites to unfettered inspection and to imply punitive action if he refuses, two administration officials told The Associated Press.

To get the resolution through the council, and past a threatened veto by China or Russia, the resolution would not spell out the threat, but it would be obvious to Saddam, said one of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Congressional leaders emerged from their Cabinet Room talks with Bush saying they would vote before the Nov. 5 elections on a non-binding resolution about what to do about Iraq. Military action is not a done deal, they agreed.
(More: The Hartford Courant News Source)
2002 © The Associated Press.

Dan