Roy Blunt: “today as we debate this resolution, I am more convinced than ever that our country's leadership in removing Saddam…”

“today as we debate this resolution, I am more convinced than ever that our country's leadership in removing Saddam Hussein from power was both morally and strategically right. Saddam Hussein left no choice but for us to act. He systematically violated 17 separate U.N. Security Council resolutions. The U.N. chose not to act. He tried to conceal from the international community his desire to produce weapons of mass destruction. In November of 1999, our Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, said that Saddam Hussein has chosen to spend his money on weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies. No doubt David Kay was correct when he called Saddam a gathering threat during a recent congressional hearing. If you do not believe Mr. Kay, maybe we should ask the families of the thousands of Kurds Saddam gassed in 1988 or ask the first U.N. weapons inspectors who prior to 1998 revealed the presence of anthrax, mustard gas, VX nerve gas, chemical weapons casings, and bombs filled with germ agents. These weapons remain unaccounted for today. Saddam Hussein's regime's support of numerous other terror organizations is well documented. Iraq stoked terrorism and instigated violence in Palestinian territories by paying the families of suicide bombers $25,000 for attacking innocent civilians.”