Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “one of the most grave decisions that a Member of Congress must make is the decision to go to war. Fewer than 24 hours…”

“one of the most grave decisions that a Member of Congress must make is the decision to go to war. Fewer than 24 hours ago, President William Jefferson Clinton launched missiles in response to continued intransigence by President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Over the past two months, President Clinton has judiciously and skillfully negotiated a truce with President Hussein, and even aborted a launched air strike against military targets in Iraq. As President Clinton clearly stated, that November 15, 1998 cease-fire was the last effort in the continued work to have Iraq comply with the terms that ended the Gulf War over seven and one-half years ago. As a person of peace and prayer, I have grave reservations any time force or violence is used to solve any problem, conflict or difference. It is unfortunate that we have not yet progressed to the point where violence is not an element of international problem-solving. Each and every life on earth is too precious to be wasted as a result of the collateral damage that inevitably happens as a result of war. The use of force should be used only as a last resort when all other options have been thoroughly examined and exhausted. Along with 434 of my colleagues in the House of Representatives and 100 of my colleagues in the Senate, I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”