Lincoln Diaz-Balart: “Mr. Speaker, we can engage in no more important task than this, debating whether to authorize the use of the Armed…”

“Mr. Speaker, we can engage in no more important task than this, debating whether to authorize the use of the Armed Forces of the United States. This task is difficult, but the issue before us is fundamentally clear. After it was expelled from Kuwait in 1991, Iraq agreed to end its production forever of weapons of mass destruction. Despite that requirement set forth by the international community by means of U.N. Security Council Resolution 687, Iraq has at this time a usable chemical and biological weapons capability, which has included recent production of chemical and biological agents. As recently declassified intelligence reports have made clear, Iraq can deliver chemical and biological agents using an extensive rage of artillery shells, free-fall bombs, sprayers and ballistic missiles. Iraq continues to work on developing nuclear weapons, in breach of its obligations under the nonproliferation treaty and in breach of U.N. Security Council Resolution 687.”