Since I've complained about the lack of pointed inquiry by the mainstream media, it's important that I also give credit when due. Thank you Tim Russert.

SEN. DASCHLE: Well, I think that we often cite the '98 resolution as our precedent for this action. That's exactly what we did in the '98 resolution. We tied it down to the use of force. We weren't as broad as this resolution now implies, and so I think that it's appropriate to go back to that precedent and to work with the administration to ensure that that's their understanding, as well as ours.

MR. RUSSERT: You raised the '98 resolution. There was a resolution back in January of '98, which you know well and I'll put it on the screen. These were the words: "Resolved by the Senate...That Congress...urges the President to take all necessary and appropriate actions to respond to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs..." And you'll see that's one Tom Daschle from January 28. But you also went on, Senator-and this is quite striking. These are words you uttered in February of 1998. And let me show you and our viewers. You were talking about the Clinton administration: "The administration has said, 'Look, we have exhausted virtually our diplomatic effort to get the Iraqis to comply with their own agreements and with international law. Given that, what other option is there but to force them to do so?' That's what they're saying. This is the key question. And the answer is we don't have another option. We have got to force them to comply, and we are doing so militarily." The Bush White House will suggest that you were trying to give President Clinton more support when he was taking on Saddam Hussein in 1998 than you're willing to give a Republican president in the year 2002.

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