Senate Concurrent Resolution 71 - Condemning Iraq's Threat to International Peace and Security

Senate Concurrent Resolution 71 - Condemning Iraq's Threat to International Peace and Security
In 1998, Senator Tom Daschle (Democrat, South Dakota) not only supported military action against Iraq, he campaigned for a resolution to formalize his support. Daschle said this resolution would "send as clear a message as possible that we are going to force, one way or another, diplomatically or militarily, Iraq to comply with international law." And he vigorously defended President Clinton's inclination to use military force in Iraq.
On January 28, 1998 Senate Concurrent Resolution 71 was introduced "condemning Iraq's threat to international peace and security." Among the co-sponsors of this bill were Tom Daschle, John Kerry, Bob Graham, Patrick Moynihan, Robert Byrd, Patrick Leahy, and Christopher Dodd. This resolution "urges the President to take all necessary and appropriate actions to respond to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." Read the text of this resolution below.
In summing up the Clinton Administration's position on Iraq, Daschle said, "Look, we have exhausted virtually our diplomatic effort to get the Iraqis to comply with their own agreements and with international law. Given that, what other option is there but to force them to do so?' That's what they're saying. This is the key question. And the answer is we don't have another option. We have got to force them to comply, and we are doing so militarily."

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 71--CONDEMNING IRAQ'S THREAT TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY (Senate - January 28, 1998)

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Mr. LOTT (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. McCain, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Helms, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Warner, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Mack, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Smith of Oregon, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Gorton, Mr. Graham, Mr. Faircloth, Mr. Hollings, Ms. Collins, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Grams, Mr. Robb, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Specter, and Mr. Hagel) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was read twice and ordered placed on the calendar:

S. Con. Res. 71

Whereas hostilities in Operation Desert Storm ended on February 28, 1991, and the cease-fire was codified in United Nations Security Council Resolutions 686 (March 2, 1991) and 687 (April 3, 1991);

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolutions 687 requires that international economic sanctions remain in place until Iraq discloses and destroys its weapons of mass destruction programs and capabilities and undertakes unconditionally never to resume such activities;

Whereas Resolution 687 further established the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) on Iraq to uncover all aspects of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs;

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 715, adopted on October 11, 1991, further empowers UNSCOM to maintain a long-term monitoring program to ensure Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs are dismantled and not restarted;

Whereas in violation of the 1991 cease-fire agreements and subsequent United Nations Security Council Resolutions, the Iraqi government has repeatedly and deliberately impeded UNSCOM from conducting its mission through concealment, harassment, deception and intimidation;

Whereas despite the sustained opposition of the government of Iraq, UNSCOM has discovered many instances of inaccurate and duplicitous actions by Iraq concerning Iraqi ballistic missile capabilities and chemical and biological weapons programs:

Whereas the United Nations Security Council has repeatedly demanded that Iraq end its obstruction of UNSCOM, including in Resolutions 1060 (June 12, 1996), 1115 (June 21, 1996), 1134 (October 23, 1997) and 1137 (November 12, 1997);

Whereas the work by the leadership and personnel of UNSCOM under difficult and dangerous conditions has been commendable;

Whereas Iraq continues to obstruct the work of UNSCOM by limiting access to sites in Iraq, by restricting the movement of UNSCOM personnel, and by threatening to end all cooperation with UNSCOM;

Whereas Iraq's continuing weapons of mass destruction programs threaten vital United States interests and international peace and security; and

Whereas the United States has existing authority to defend United States interests in the Persian Gulf region:

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring--

(1) Condemns in the strongest possible terms the continued threat to international peace and security posed by Iraq's refusal to meet its international obligations and end its weapons of mass destruction programs;

(2) Urges the President to take all necessary and appropriate actions to respond to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs; and

(3) Urges the President to work with Congress in furthering a long-term policy aimed at definitively ending the threat to international peace and security posed by the government of Iraq and its weapons of mass destruction programs.