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Wednesday, December 5, 1990 / University Daily Kansan
Persian Gulf Crisis
House Democrats vote 177-37 to require congressional consent for military action
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — House Democrats, on a vote of 177-37, adopted a policy statement late yesterday which said that President Bush should take no military action against Iraq without prior approval from Congress, except to protect American lives from imminent endangerment.
The Democratic caucus debated the non-binding declaration for two hours, amending it in the end to include language supporting the president's diplomatic initiatives in the Persian Gulf crisis. But the admonition to Bush toush congressional approval for war "is a statement by the Democratic Caucus that we want the Constitution respected on this crucial point," said Rep. Norman Lent, D-Wash.
Earlier, former Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara testified to a Senate committee that seeking prior approval from Congress and the public for initiating a war against Iraq should be a lesson heeded from Vietnam. A Republican senator said, "If we start having body bags coming into our house we have a very serious revolt." If the president orders U.S. troops into combat without that approval.
NcMamara, who was Lyndon B. Johnson's defense secretary at the height of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he would continue to rely upon economic sanctions as the
main weapon against Iraq for a year or more.
In Uruguay, Bush took issue with the parade of
cars on the streets, arguing for patriots with the sanctions strategy.
"I've not been one whose been convinced that sanctions, alone with bring him to his senses." Bush called the attack.
Asked to compare the situation with Vietnam, McNamara said, "I do not believe the president should, and I do not believe he will; actionAction is difficult because people expressed by the approval of the Congress.
Several committee members, meanwhile, indicated they had not been swayed by Defense Secretary Dick Cheney's argument to the Senate on the issue of Iran. There were sanctions against Iraq were likely to prove futile.
"Sometimes there is more toughness in patience than in lashing out. This is such a time," said Sen. Paul Simon, D-III., a member of the foreign relations panel.
Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., said, "We have time. I don't see any hurry. I don't see any doubt that he either gets out, or he gets thrown out, blown out."
House Armed Services Chairperson Les Aspin, D-Wis, opened yet another gulf policy hearing, set to last three weeks, by observing that "the country is united on ends but divided on means."
Aspin, who supported Bush's latest troop deployments, agreed that 'action that isn't backed by consensus will mean disaster. Whatever we do, the president must do it standing on common ground.'
In stating his argument for sanctions, Moynihan said Iraq relied on imports for items as basic as its own currency. Holding up several Iraqi dinars, he said they were being shipped to London, and would wear out in about 12 months.
Later, speaking with reporters, Moynihan observed that Bush had enjoyed uninstinging congressional support until Nov. 8, when the administration announced a new troop buildup to achieve unification after Sept. 11, then Democrats have urged Bush to rely more on sanctions and diplomacy than on military force.
Sen. Rudy Boschwitz, R-Minn., said that a promise of time to let the sanctions work also amounted to a reprieve in pressure on Iraq that manage resources and build military strength.
"If he is able to hold off the entire world for two years, Saddam Hussein will be seen as the new Nasser of the Middle East," Boschwitz said, referring to the Egyptian leader of the 1960s.
NemAmara said those who focused on the costs of a prolonged embargo failed to see the costs of a prolonged embargo.
Saddam promises to free 3,300 Soviets
The Associated Press
Saddam Hussein yesterday backed away from his confrontation with the Kremlin, promising to release the 3,300 Soviets being held in Iraq. The military opposed that it would use military force against it if Soviets there were harmed.
Before the Persian Gulf crisis began, Moscow was Iraq's chief weapons supplier and main ally. The Kremlin has not sent troops to join the U.S.-led multinational force stationed in Saudi Arabia.
The Soviets, mainly oil industry
experts, will be allowed to leave Baghdad beginning today, the official Iraqi News Agency said. It reported, however, that Moscow would have to pay compensation for broken contracts.
Iraq had warned foreign companies and employees that it would demand compensation for any contract breached after its invasion.
In Moscow, presidential spokesperson Vitaly Ignatenko was 3.323 Soviets remained in Iraq. Thousands were in the months after the invasion.
Moscow adopted a harder line against Iraq last week when it accused Saddam of breaking a promise to allow Soviets to leave.
Iraq is holding hundreds of Westerners, many at strategic sites, to deter attack by the 340,000-strong U.S.-led multinational force deployed in the gulf. Soviets are not believed among those being used as "human棱胸"
Saddam has said he would free all hostages between Christmas and March 25 if no military action is
taken. That period is considered the optimum time for an offensive to drive the Iraqis from Kuwait.
The Iraq decision yesterday was seen as an attempt by Saddam to forestall any Soviet military intervention in the gulf that might cement the U.S.-led coalition already poised in the region against him.
But releasing the Soviets is not likely to assuage Moscow's mounting impatience with Sadidian about his plans, but it has boosted its growing alliance with the West.
Bush aide asks judge to dismiss Iraq suit
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department yesterday urged a federal judge to stay out of the evolving political discussions between President Bush and Congress about whether U.S. military force will be used to push Iraq out of Kuwait.
Arguing that it was a matter for the "political branches" of government — Congress and the White House — Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Gerson asked for dismissal of a lawsuit by 54 Democratic lawmakers that seeks an injunction requiring Bush to seek congressional approval before attacking Iraqi forces.
Gerson told U.S. District Judge Harold H. Greene that an injunction was unnecessary because "there has been no decision, one way or another, to deploy forces" against Iraq.
But counsel for the lawmakers said the court could and should tell the president not to engage in "snubbing his nose" at Congress.
"It may well be that Iraq will come to its senses, it may very well be for the Congress to endorse the United Nations resolution" passed last week by the Security Council authorizing force to expel Iraqi troops from Kuwait after Jan. 15, Gerson said.
"At this point, it's a matter to be worked out by the political branches." Gerson said.
Gerson argued that granting the injunction "would put this court directly in the way of defining what a war is — itself becoming commander-in-chief," Gerson said.
The lawmakers, joined yesterday by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.
and eight House Democrats, brought suit Nov 20 to challenge Bush's power to wage war against Iran, which authorized authorization from Congress.
The plaintiffs contend that the war-powers clause of the Constitution requires a declaration of war or some other authorization by Congress before the president could launch U.S. forces.
"I think the president is snubbing his nose at Congress and I think the court should say he cannot continue to do so," University of Pittsburgh law professor Jules Lebel argued for the lawmakers.
"This suit is not about whether we ought to go to war, but who ought to make that decision," Lobel said.
But Greene expressed skepticism about Lobel's argument, noting that the Bush administration viewed the war powers clause process for 'the two political branches to agree when there is a war.
"It doesn't have to involve the judiciary," Greene said. "You also have a problem to overcome if you don't have an injunction you are asking for."
Judges have been shy about injunction courts into political discussions between Congress and the White House, particularly in a long line of cases involving war powers.
Gerson said that a court ruling would interfere with diplomatic efforts to negotiate a peaceful solution to the Persian Gulf crisis or an evolving political discussion between Congress and the president.
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