31 July 2002

Senate Begins Hearings on U.S. Policy Towards Iraq, July 31, 2002

(Hearings to examine Iraqi threat and possible U.S. use of force)

By Ghada Elnajjar Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- July 31 marked the beginning of Congressional hearings on U.S. policy towards Iraq. At two-day hearings, the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations listened to expert testimony examining threats, responses and regional considerations surrounding Iraq.

"[T]he Foreign Relations Committee today begins what I hope will be a national dialogue on Iraq that sheds more light than heat, and helps inform the American people, so they can have a more informed basis upon which to draw their own conclusions," said Committee Chairman Joseph Biden in his opening remarks.

In light of President Bush's expressed determination to use "all possible means" to effect a regime change in Iraq, the hearings are designed to better inform the American people and help them draw their own conclusions, said Biden.

"In my opinion, complicated and relevant questions remain to be answered before making a case for war," said Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel in his opening statement.

The "American people need to understand the political, economic, and military magnitude and risks that would be inevitable if we invaded Iraq," he added.

During the two days of hearings, witnesses will address four themes: an assessment of the nature and urgency of the threat Iraq poses on the region, the United States and its allies; the appropriate response and the best policy options to meet this threat; the regional considerations in regards to the Iraq issue, including regional stability and U.S. interests there; and the prospects for a democratic Iraq after Saddam Hussein.

To examine the Iraqi threat, the first panel featured Richard Butler, the former chief of the U.N. weapons inspectors for Iraq; Khidir Hamza, former Iraqi Nuclear Engineer; and Anthony Cordesman, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington.

Their discussion focused on Iraq's intention to produce and possess weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and potentially to utilize them against American and other targets.

Butler said the claims made by Iraqi officials that Iraq does not have WMD are false. He told the committee that Iraq continues to seek and maintain nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. However, he said, the exact status of these efforts are unknown. Since 1998, Iraq has prevented UN inspectors from finishing their job, in violation of international law, said Butler.

"The resumption of arms control in Iraq is urgently required," said Butler.

According to Hamza, Saddam has created the "perfect cover" for his WMD program, which "is built indigenously with some foreign help." Hamza said that Saddam's drive to build larger WMD stockpiles is to make up for Iraq's depleted conventional military capability, which he said "has been considerably degraded since the Gulf War."

Cordesman agreed that Iraq's conventional forces do have "serious defects," but Iraq "remains the most effective military power in the Gulf." He said that Iraq remains " a serious opponent that cannot be ignored."

In discussing the possibility of using force against Iraq, Cordesman warned about civilian casualties.

"Even with our precision weapons, we cannot guarantee that civilians will not be struck," said Cordesman. He added that to be careless about this possible war would be a disaster.

Although no administration officials were present to testify, Biden said that the hearings were closely coordinated with the White House, stressing that the hearings are not designed to prejudge any particular course of action nor are they intended to short circuit the debate taking place within the administration. According to Biden, it is expected that the administration will participate at hearings in the future.

According to several senators, part of the debate is also aimed at ensuring that the administration does not proceed in using force without Congressional authorization. Senator Dianne Feinstein from California and Vermont’s Senator Patrick Leahy issued a press release July 30 announcing that they have introduced a concurrent resolution opposing the use of force against Iraq without congressional authorization or a declaration of war.

According to the press release, Feinstein said, "if we are to use force, that we do so only after full debate and consideration of the options and with a united government and the specific statutory authorization of Congress."

At the hearing, Indiana Senator Dick Lugar also stated that it is important for the administration to seek Congressional authorization before using force against Iraq.

"If President Bush determines that large-scale offensive military action is necessary against Iraq, I hope that he will follow the lead established by the previous Bush Administration and seek Congressional authorization," Lugar said.

"The Administration understands that, ultimately, it will have to make a case for its policy decisions. This is not an action that can be sprung on the American people ... public debates over policy are important to the construction of strong public support for actions that will require great sacrifices from the American people," Lugar concluded.