News from Congresswoman Barbara Lee
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News from Congresswoman Barbara Lee |
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PRESS RELEASE |
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| October 8, 2002 |
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AMENDMENT AUTHORED BY CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE
MADE IN ORDER FOR H. J. RES. 114, USE OF FORCE AGAINST IRAQ:
WOULD GIVE UNITED NATIONS OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERTAKE INSPECTIONS
Washington DC Last night, the House Committee on Rules made in order Congresswoman Barbara Lee's (D-CA) amendment calling for diplomatic rather than military action. This amendment calls for the United States to work through the United Nations to renew arms inspections, assure Iraqi compliance with U.N. resolutions, and advance peace and security in the Persian Gulf region. This amendment in the form of a substitute to H. J. Res. 114 will be voted on on Thursday, October 10, 2002.
"President Bush has called on the United Nations to assume its responsibilities. I call on the United States to assume ours by working with the United Nations to ensure that Iraq is not developing weapons of mass destruction by utilizing mechanisms such as the resumption of arms inspections, negotiation, regional cooperation, and other diplomatic tools," Congresswoman Lee stated. "This alternative to war would give the U.N. inspections process a chance to work, continuing the successes of the 1990s when thousands of Iraqi weapons were found and destroyed," Lee said.
"We all agree that the people of Iraq and the people of the world would be better off without Saddam Hussein in power, but I believe that we are better off still if we eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction," said Lee. "A preemptive, unilateral first strike would set a terrible international precedent. The question one must ask when confronting this doctrine of preemption is, where will it end? Which dictator will be next?"
This amendment outlines the history of Iraq's non-compliance with U.N. Resolution 687 and other resolutions and cease-fire agreements and sets forth the need to renew weapons inspections and to seek our and destroy any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq as well as pointing out the potential consequences for the United States of a first strike against Iraq. The language of the amendment is drawn from Congresswoman Lee's legislation, H. Con. Res. 473, which currently has 37 cosponsors.
The amendment reads in part, "Whereas the short-term and long-term costs of unilateral U.S. military action against Iraq and subsequent occupation may be significant in terms of United States casualties, the cost to the United States treasury, and harm to United States diplomatic relations with other countries: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the United States should work through the United Nations to seek to resolve the matter of ensuring that Iraq is not developing weapons of mass destruction, through mechanisms such as the resumption of weapons inspections, negotiation, enquiry, mediation, regional arrangements, and other peaceful means."
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