Reply #46: Some info on Biden Lugar

[mzmolly]

"Bush to Congress: Don't tie my hands"
http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/01/bush.iraq/

http://www.why-war.com/news/2002/10/02/bushwant.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021001-2.html

Q: Thank you, sir. There's a resolution being circulated by Senators Biden and Lugar, an alternative resolution on authorizing force in Iraq. What's wrong with that alternative?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I -- first of all, I appreciate all the members of Congress working to come up with a resolution. It sends a clear signal to the world that this country is determined to disarm Iraq, and thereby bring peace to the world. Members in both parties are working to get a consensus. Secondly -- and we'll continue to work with members of Congress. But I don't want to get a resolution which ties my hands, a resolution which is weaker than that which was passed out of the Congress in 1998. The Congress in 1998 passed a very strong resolution. They wisely recognized that Saddam Hussein is a threat -- was a threat in '98, and he's more of a threat four years later.

My question is, what's changed? Why would Congress want to weaken a resolution? This guy's had four years to lie, deceive, to arm up. He's had four years to thumb his nose at the world. He is stockpiling more weapons. So I'm not sure why members would like to weaken the resolution.

Compare the text of Biden/Lugar with the rez that passed.

Text of Biden/Lugar here.
http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/US/Legislation/bidenlugar-resolution-093002.htm

Statement from the ACLU here:
http://archive.aclu.org/news/2002/n100202a.html