Our Last Best Hope - Bring the Debate Back to Senate

By D. LINDLEY YOUNG
February 4,  2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. (2/3) - Senators Edward Kennedy (See Kennedy speech) and Robert Byrd (See Byrd speech) are trying to bring the debates on the war in Iraq back to the Senate. We are running out of time to stop the war on Iraq. They may be the last best hope to avoid this war.

Powell will present the Bush case supporting war on Iraq to the UN on Wednesday. It will not convince them - because the case is unconvincing. They will not accept that there is more evidence than Bush is willing to tell. They will not accept a failure to "account" for WMD or a renewed effort, in recent months, by Iraq to "procure" weapons (possibly to deter the threatened invasion by the US), as sufficient justification for war and its consequences. They will not accept that Iraq is not proactive enough in the disarmament process to justify a war while there is an inspection process under way.

Bush has already made his case for the UN "shrinking" from their responsibilities, becoming the League of Nations, and becoming "irrelevant," if war is not their choice. We are all but ready for an immediate war - with potentially devastating consequences at a time when the US does not appear to be as prepared as it could be for further terrorist attacks. Leave no doubt that if there is even the slightest opportunity for Bush to start the war, he will.

We strongly urge that we all do everything that we can to bring the debate back to the Senate. This war, in this manner, under these circumstances, may set the course of the world for this century. We must be informed and convinced we are right. The Senate and House gave up their power to declare war in order to show unity in order that war could be avoided. Bush then leveraged the vote of Congress - and used the same unity - to avoid war - argument in the UN - to get the 15 - 0  support for UN Resolution 1441. After getting the purported approval of Congress and the unanimous UN resolution, Bush has conducted a public relations campaign for war, hammering these actions as approval for war, when they were not. The Bush machine has elevated these actions to "approval" for war against Iraq now, when they were not so intended. The actions by the Senate and UN were for the approval of the notion that a united front would avoid war. These actions have not been used that way.

The actions of Bush in arguing that unity was necessary to avoid war and then converting the actions of Congress and the UN into a public relations tool to forge ahead with the war, is tantamount to a trick. Many in the Senate and on the UN Security Council must feel deceived. Bush has been threatening economic reprisals on the "not so willing" to force a war where there is no convincing evidence that Iraq is an imminent threat the US or anyone. It appears that war at any cost or consequence is the course of Bush with a singular focus that is alarming.

The circumstances have changed since the actions of the Senate and UN Resolution 1441, and the Senate should renew the debate in order to take back the duties it is required to exercise under the US Constitution and the War Powers Act. Inspections are working and containment will work. The power of ideas brought down the USSR, not bombs.

While distorting the purpose of the actions of the Congress and the UN, Bush has been propagating his don't "shrink" or become "irrelevant" arguments in the direction of unilateral action and will proceed in that direction - if for no other reason - to save face.

The attack on Iraq will increase the dangers we face at a time when we are not ready to face them. We cannot just stand in the face of irreversible global consequences and inevitable death and destruction - in the name of America - and not use every resort available. Kennedy and Byrd are on the right track. They must be vigorously supported. It may be the last chance to avoid war. 

The world is at stake. It is our duty as Americans to stand up, to question,  and to challenge what we know is wrong - with all our might.

We are questioning a military war that may do more harm than good. We are questioning whether the resources to be used for war are better served protecting the homeland. We are questioning whether we weaken the war on terrorism by alienating allies. We are questioning whether we are creating more dangers than we are eliminating. We are questioning why Saddam and why NOW.

The Senate must take back the power to declare war and the debate must be renewed so that all Americans are fully informed of the war on Iraq which is to be made in our names.

See Senator Tom Daschle's position - See Senator John Kerry's position

___

Please

The Modern Tribune

Senators Edward Kennedy and Robert Byrd are trying to bring the debates on the war in Iraq back to the Senate. Senators Edward Kennedy and Robert Byrd are trying to bring the debates on the war in Iraq back to the Senate. Senators Edward Kennedy and Robert Byrd are trying to bring the debates on the war in Iraq back to the Senate.