John Thune: “Mr. Speaker, in 1991, the United States left Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in power after his unprovoked invasion of…”

“Mr. Speaker, in 1991, the United States left Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in power after his unprovoked invasion of Kuwait. The U.S. and our coalition powers failed to understand the depths of evil that Saddam would sink to as the leader of Iraq or the willingness of the international community to look the other way as he continued to develop weapons of mass destruction. Over the last decade, Saddam has systematically negotiated and then violated multiple international agreements with the United Nations, allowing him to develop and stockpile weapons of mass destruction, while at the same time terrorizing his own people. President Bush has called for an end to the international appeasement of Saddam. The President has challenged every nation of the world to face up to its responsibility and stop this evil man with his evil designs. The President said that if the international community is not willing to meet this challenge, that the United States is. Mr. Speaker, I support the President's call for action; and I call on my colleagues to do the same by supporting this resolution.”