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handle is hein.crs/crsmthaaavf0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS21325
Updated January 31, 2003
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Iraq: Divergent Views on Military Action
Alfred B. Prados
Specialist in Middle East Affairs
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division
Summary
Officials of the Bush Administration believe military action against Iraq may be
necessary to eliminate threats posed by the Iraqi regime to the U.S. and international
communities. In October 2002, Congress passed ajoint resolution (H.J.Res. 114) giving
the President authority to use force if necessary to eliminate threats posed by Saddam
Hussein's Iraq. Some Members of Congress, commentators, and analysts question the
Administration's rationale for military action or favor delaying it to allow U.N. weapons
inspectors more time to complete their findings in Iraq. This report summarizes
arguments advanced by the Administration and by critics of the Administration's
position. It will be updated as the situation continues to develop. For further reading,
see CRS Report RL31339, Iraq: U.S. Efforts to Change the Regime, by Kenneth
Katzman.
Overview
Discussion continues between the Bush Administration and Congress and in the
international community about the rationale for military action against the Iraqi regime
and the feasibility of such action. Supporters of a military option believe a campaign to
oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is probably the only way to compel Iraq's
compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions, eliminate its weapons of mass
destruction (WMD), and terminate its ability to support international terrorism.
Opponents argue that resumption of U.N. weapons inspections with unfettered access
throughout Iraq may achieve the goal of ridding Iraq of WMD without a costly military
campaign, which could prove difficult to implement, and also could destabilize U.S. allies
in the region and divert resources from other phases of the war against terrorism.
President Bush has repeatedly called for regime change in Iraq. In his speech before
the U.N. General Assembly on September 12,2002, the President emphasized the dangers
posed by Iraq's programs to develop WMD and urged the United Nations to live up to its
responsibilities by enforcing previous U.N. Security Council resolutions that Iraq has
ignored. On October 10 and 11, respectively, the House and Senate passed H.J.Res. 114
(P.L. 107-243), which authorizes the President to use the U.S. Armed Forces to defend
the national security of the United States against the continuing Iraqi threat and enforce
Congressional Research Service + The Library of Congress

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