Mike Levin: “from the outset I have opposed the Bush administration's approach to Iraq. It embraced the notion of pre-emptive strike…”

“from the outset I have opposed the Bush administration's approach to Iraq. It embraced the notion of pre-emptive strike where the U.S. could act alone when it determined that there was a threat, even if that threat did not pose imminent danger to the United States. Within this misguided doctrine of the Administration, other nations and the United Nations would merely be notified of an American decision with little emphasis on the United States using our unique leadership position in the world community to obtain support for collective action; strengthening the international role rather than the U.S. going it alone. As the administration was moving to implement their doctrine, I joined others in actively opposing it. When the President asked for the authority to undertake unilateral military action against Iraq, I worked with others to draft an alternative that required the President to come back to the Congress for its approval before taking unilateral military action in the absence of authorization by the U.N. Security Council. Unfortunately, our resolution did not pass.”