Biden:Informed consent on Iraq

By Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Global Beat Syndicate
(KRT)
WASHINGTON – In his masterful presentation to the UN Security Council on February 5, Secretary of State Colin Powell presented irrefutable evidence that Iraq is in material breach of its obligations as spelled out in various U.N. resolutions, including last fall’s resolution 1441.
As Secretary Powell amply demonstrated, Saddam Hussein is playing "hide and seek" with U.N. inspection teams when his responsibility is to "show and tell." Secretary Powell had to make that case and he did so in just the right manner. He did not exaggerate. He did not use any rhetorical flourishes. He made the case in a straightforward and convincing manner, and he reminded everyone that Iraq is the world’s problem, not just that of the United States.
But I did not need his presentation to be convinced. I was convinced long ago that Iraq is in violation of its obligations. In a legal sense, the proof of Saddam’s many years of flouting UN resolutions is clear and compelling, and is sufficient to justify going forward with military action. And while further U.N. Security Council backing is not legally necessary, it is advisable.
More important, we should not go to war simply on a legal basis. We must have a political rationale as well, with well-defined political objectives that ensure we have as many nations with us if and when we go to war. No one doubts our military is capable of prosecuting the war alone, if necessary, but broad international support is vital if we are to lessen the burden on the United States after Saddam is gone.
Testimony before Congress indicated we are likely to have 75,000 or more armed U.S. troops in Iraq – at a cost of about $20 billion a year – for at least two years after the war to maintain stability, prevent retribution and guard the borders. This is not a task we should undertake alone, leaving our soldiers vulnerable as poster boys for every malcontent in the world.
Beyond bringing along our allies, we have an obligation, first and foremost, to our men and women in uniform, and to all Americans, to explain what we are getting into should the President decide we must go to war. Again, this is not just with respect to the rationale for using force to disarm Saddam of his weapons of mass destruction, but so that the American public can know in advance what the long-term obligations will be in that part of the world.
Today, most Americans believe "Johnny will come marching home again" in a matter of weeks. But Johnny is not going to do that. We are likely to be in Iraq for a long time, and the public is being asked to come up with more than just their treasure in the form of tax dollars. Husbands, wives, sons and daughters will be away for some time to come. If we expect them to be in on what may be a hard landing, we owe it to the American people to get them in on the takeoff.
Americans want to support their President. But if the administration is not fully forthcoming, does not spell out the time and the sacrifice, we are going to have real problems 18 months from now.