David Obey: “I intend to vote to authorize the President to use military force against Iraq, provided that we are part of an allied…”

“I intend to vote to authorize the President to use military force against Iraq, provided that we are part of an allied coalition under the authority of a new U.N. resolution. But if the President cannot obtain the support of our allies or passage of such a U.N. resolution, then the congressional resolution must provide an opportunity for Congress to evaluate the situation at the time before deciding on unilateral action. I would not be comfortable supporting any resolution that is an immediate blank check, Gulf of Tonkin, take-it-or-leave-it abdication of congressional responsibility that would not provide for that opportunity. Saddam Hussein is a bad actor who must be dealt with. The issue is not whether Saddam will be dealt with, but how. The United States' interests are best preserved over the long haul if we act in concert with our allies and with the approval of the United Nations. The U.N. cannot have a veto, but Congress should know where it and our allies stand and how much of the effort and cost they will bear before we decide to proceed unilaterally. The best way to unite this country and the world in this effort is to follow a careful, two-step process; and I am convinced that this is the wisest course to follow if we want to minimize regional instability and maintain the broadest possible international support for our war against terrorism.”