Rob Portman: “Mr. Speaker, as we reach the conclusion of this historic and dignified debate, now is the appropriate time to review the…”

“Mr. Speaker, as we reach the conclusion of this historic and dignified debate, now is the appropriate time to review the facts that compel the United States to act in self-defense and in defense of the civilized world. The fact, Mr. Speaker, is that the Iraqi regime is employing the vast wealth of his country to develop biological, chemical and nuclear weapons in direct violations of the 1991 cease-fire agreement and in violation of numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions. The fact is that the Iraqi regime is responsible for two wars against its neighbors resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands. The fact is that the regime's abuse of the U.N. administered Oil For Food Program is creating catastrophic shortages of food and medicine for thousands of Iraqi women and children. The fact is that the regime's association with terrorists undermines stability in the Middle East and threatens the security of the United States of America. The fact is that weapons of mass destruction in the hands of someone who sanctions the wholesale murder, starvation, rape and mutilation of ethnic Kurds, Shiite Muslims and other opponents is a clear and present danger to the security of the world.”