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http://www.house.gov/cummings/press/02oct10b.htm

Archived: 12/12/2002 at 14:42:26

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Congressman Elijah E. Cummings
Proudly Representing Maryland's 7th District

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Devika Koppikar
(202) 225-4741 or (202) 225-4024
Mike Christianson
(410) 496-2010 or (202) 225-9876

Congressman Cummings Votes Against Giving President "Blank Check" on War with Iraq
Votes Instead to Support U.N.-Sanctioned, Multi-National Alternative

Washington, D.C. -- During debate today in the United States House of Representatives, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) joined 132 other House members in voting in opposition to House Joint Resolution 114 "Authorization For Use of Military Force Against Iraq."

The Resolution, which passed the House by a vote of 296-133, authorizes President Bush to commit U.S. armed forces to military action in Iraq - at his discretion and without further congressional action.

Presidential efforts to seek the legitimacy and multi-national support that would come from a new U.N. Security Council Resolution are encouraged -- but not required -- by the Resolution.

Noting the concurring opinions of Central Intelligence Director George Tenet, House Intelligence Committee Member Nancy Pelosi (CA-08) and other experts, Congressman Cummings observed that "we have seen no evidence nor intelligence that suggests that Iraq poses an imminent threat to our nation."

As the debate in the House evolved, it became clear that almost all Members of Congress support the goal of eliminating the Iraqi regime's ability to threaten the world with weapons of mass destruction.

"The Congress is united in our determination to eliminate this threat," Congressman Cummings observed. "The core issue in this debate was the strategy that the United States should follow to achieve that goal."

"In the absence of clear evidence of an imminent threat to the United States," the Congressman reasoned, "I have concluded that a preemptive, 'go-it-alone' military strategy by the United States towards Iraq would be both unwise and morally wrong."

The House votes on Iraq expressed a strong and wide-spread preference for U.N.-sanctioned action that would provide the basis for broad international support.

During the House debate, Congressman Cummings' noted his concerns about the consequences of unilateral U.S. action without broad international support:

(1) First and foremost, U.S. policy should be based upon respect for human life -- and a unilateral first-strike would almost certainly result in the substantial loss of life - both among American troops and among Iraqi civilians.

(2) A unilateral first strike would undermine the moral authority of the United States - and could set a devastating international precedent that we could then see echoed in conflicts between India and Pakistan, Russia and Georgia, China and Taiwan, and in many other corners of the world.

(3) Unilateral U.S. action may well destabilize the Middle East, harming the international cooperation that we need to defend America against terrorism.

(4) The United States might have to remain in Iraq for a decade - a commitment requiring international support and engagement.

(5) The economic costs of "going it alone" would undermine the ability of our nation to address our unmet domestic priorities.

Prior to passage of H.J.Res. 114, Congressman Cummings joined 154 other members of the House in voting for the "Spratt Alternative," a staged U.S. response to the longer-term threat posed by Iraq that was sponsored by Congressman John M. Spratt, Jr. (S.C.-05).

The Spratt Alternative would have authorized the use of U.S. armed forces to enforce any new U.N. Security Council resolution that provides for the elimination of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, long-range ballistic missiles, and the means of producing such weapons and missiles.

If the Security Council failed to undertake that action, the President would have been required to seek further Congressional authorization, under an expedited process, before going to war with Iraq.

That requirement was eliminated in the final House action on H. J. Res. 114.

For additional information, please contact Ms. Devika Koppikar at (202) 225-4741 or (202) 225-4024, or Mr. Mike Christianson at (410) 496-2010 or (202) 225-9876.