Maine, N.H. Delegates Discuss Going to War Without U.N. Support
WASHINGTON—Several members of Congress from Maine and New Hampshire said Wednesday that President Bush’s decision to go to war against Iraq without a U.N.-backed resolution was the right one, saying that Bush made considerable diplomatic efforts and that not acting against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein would be an even greater risk. Others voiced frustration and wished Bush had gained more international support before making his decision.
“We have all the authorization we need from the U.N. and all the authorization from the Congress,” Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) said in an interview. “It’s a matter of our national security and not the U.N.’s security. It’s very important that we move forward in that interest; Saddam has not responded to the call to disarm.”
Both Gregg and Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) said that the United States must act now to avoid the consequences of letting Saddam Hussein stay in power. The two Maine Republican Senators agreed, although they expressed frustration that the situation was not resolved diplomatically.
“[Sen. Collins] would be a lot happier if the U.N. was able to work more cooperatively on this. She’s disappointed with the way this has turned out and has always been advocating diplomacy,” Sen. Susan Collins’ chief of staff Steve Abbott said. “If the Security Council had been able to present a united front, [Saddam Hussein] would be more likely to be forced to comply with the resolutions.”
Sen. Olympia Snowe’s press secretary, Elizabeth Wenk, echoed those sentiments and said Snowe believes that Saddam Hussein was given every opportunity to disarm. She added that Snowe was pleased that the United States is supported by a coalition of 45 nations in its attack on Iraq.
“This late in the negotiations, Saddam could have disarmed and he didn’t,” Wenk said, speaking for Snowe. “The risk of inaction is far greater than the risk of action.”
Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) disagreed, saying that President Bush should be acting with official U.N. support and the help of a strong international coalition.
“I hope that my concerns are groundless,” he said in an interview. “I hope this will be a quick military action with minimal loss of life and the creation of more stability in Iraq in the aftermath. I hope this works.”
Still others commended Bush’s diplomatic efforts and said that he made his decision because there was no other alternative.
“I think that Bush went to great ends to try to work with the U.N. and achieve diplomatic resolution,” Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-N.H.) said in an interview, citing the “stalemate” in the U.N. during the last few months.
“We would have had a much better chance for a diplomatic solution had the president’s hands not been tied behind his back with the U.N.; it’s unfortunate. Obviously, like all Americans I will support our troops and hope for a speedy end to this,” he said.
“No one wants to go to war,” Rep. Charlie Bass (R-N.H.) said in a statement. “I commend President Bush for making every effort to avoid a military conflict.”
Published in Foster’s Daily Democrat, in New Hampshire.
