Patrick Leahy: “last Thursday, at his press conference, the President of the United States gave his reasons to justify the use of…”

“last Thursday, at his press conference, the President of the United States gave his reasons to justify the use of military force to remove Saddam Hussein from power. The President said again that he has not made up his mind to go to war, but his own advisers are saying that even if Iraq fully complies with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441, Saddam Hussein must be removed from power. The President said his goal is protecting the American people from terrorism. That is a goal we all share. But he offered no evidence that Iraq had anything to do with the September 11 attacks or any details of Iraq's links to al-Qaida. He offered no new information about the potential costs of a war, either in American and Iraqi lives, or in dollars. Both Republicans and Democrats have urged the President to be more forthcoming with the American people, to tell us what sacrifices may be involved--not to have Cabinet members come to the Senate and the House, and when asked how much they estimate a war and its aftermath may cost, say: We have no idea. We know the administration has estimated the costs, yet the President dismissively says ``ask the spenders'' in Congress, knowing full well that Congress appropriates funds, it is the President who spends them. It is disingenuous, at best, to refuse to level with the American people at a time of rapidly escalating deficits.”