Text: Letter Urging Action in Iraq
washingtonpost.com
Friday, Dec. 7, 2001
Following is the text of a letter sent to
President Bush by ten lawmakers urging him to make the Iraqi regime the next
major target in the war on terrorism.
The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
The events of September 11 have highlighted the
vulnerability of the United States to determined terrorists. As we work to clean
up Afghanistan and destroy al Qaeda, it is imperative that we plan to eliminate
the threat from Iraq.
This December will mark three years since United Nations inspectors last visited
Iraq. There is no doubt that since that time, Saddam Hussein has reinvigorated
his weapons programs. Reports indicate that biological, chemical and nuclear
programs continue apace and may be back to pre-Gulf war status. In addition,
Saddam continues to refine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of
a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the
United States and our allies.
For much of the last year, the Administration has struggled to plug loopholes in
the international sanctions against Iraq. Unfortunately, efforts to coopt
Saddam's illegal trading partners ? particularly Syria ? have failed. In the
meantime, the illegal oil trade from Iraq has flourished, and Saddam now earns
an estimated $2 billion annually, much of which he has devoted to his military
and his illegal weapons programs.
If we have learned one thing from the ongoing battle in Afghanistan, it is that
working effectively in coordination with locals on the ground can significantly
leverage our own use of military force. While we have no doubt that in the long
run, the United States will always prevail in battle with the likes of the
Taliban (not to speak of Saddam Hussein), we also know that we can minimize
casualties and shorten conflict by cooperating with opposition forces. That has
been a key element of US strategy for several decades.
Since the passage of the Iraq Liberation Act three years ago, we have fought to
provide support for Iraqis inside Iraq. The Iraqi National Congress (INC), an
umbrella group of all the significant anti-Saddam forces inside Iraq, has
consistently requested Administration assistance for operations on the ground in
Iraq ranging from the delivery of humanitarian assistance and
information-gathering to military and technical training and lethal military
drawdown.
Despite the express wishes of the Congress, the INC has been denied U.S.
assistance for any operations inside any part of Iraq, including liberated
Kurdish areas. Instead, successive Administrations have funded conferences,
offices and other intellectual exercises that have done little more than expose
the INC to accusations of being "limousine insurgents" and "armchair guerillas".
We note the troubling similarity of these accusation to charges made against the
Afghan guerillas now helping us win the war against the Taliban.
The threat from Iraq is real, and it cannot be permanently contained. For as
long as Saddam Hussein is in power in Baghdad, he will seek to acquire weapons
of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. We have no doubt that these
deadly weapons are intended for use against the United States and its allies.
Consequently, we believe we must directly confront Saddam, sooner rather than
later. Without allies on the ground inside Iraq, we will be handicapping our own
efforts. Each day that passes costs us an opportunity to unite and
professionalize the Iraqi opposition, thus ensuring it will be less capable when
the conflict begins.
Again, we can learn from our experience in Afghanistan. We cannot be drawn into
the ethnic politics of any particular nation, but should find a way to work with
all the opposition in a unified framework. The Iraqi National Congress is the
only umbrella organization comprising all elements of the Iraqi opposition. No
one group is excluded, no one group is favored.
Mr. President, all indications are that in the interest of our own national
security, Saddam Hussein must be removed from power. Let us maximize the
likelihood of a rapid victory by beginning immediately to assist the Iraqi
opposition on the ground inside Iraq by providing them money and assistance
already authorized and appropriated.
We look forward to working with you on this most important matter.
Sincerely,
John McCain
Jesse Helms
Henry J. Hyde
Richard C. Shelby
Harold Ford Jr.
Joseph I. Lieberman
Trent Lott
Benjamin A. Gilman
Sam Brownback