Max Baucus: “I rise today to speak out on the issue of Iraq. This conceivably is one of the most important issues that we as a…”

“I rise today to speak out on the issue of Iraq. This conceivably is one of the most important issues that we as a governing body will address in what remains of the 107th Congress. Let me start by saying that Saddam Hussein is a dangerous man. As many of my colleagues have already pointed out, he has actively engaged in attacking Americans in the region. He has actively engaged in deploying chemical and biological weapons against his own people. He has participated in genocide against his own people. He has continually deceived U.N. weapons inspectors. He has failed to comply with U.N. resolutions to disarm his weapons of mass destruction. He was involved in an assassination attempt against former President George Bush senior. He has committed serious acts of aggression against his neighbors. These are all acts of a man that cannot be trusted. Back in 1998, the Senate passed the Iraqi Liberation Act that declared it should be the policy of the United States to seek to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and replace him with a democratic government. I supported this bill and believe that Saddam continues to be a detriment to his people. The Iraqi people deserve a chance to be free from a vicious dictator. Our actions today go far beyond declaring Saddam a danger to his people and to the rest of the world. Our actions today will authorize the use of force in the case Saddam refuses once again to defy U.N. resolutions and disarm.”