Congress gave President Bush the broad authority he sought to use U.S. military force to confront Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The Democratic-led Senate approved the war resolution early Friday, following the House of Representatives which voted for the measure on Thursday.
Because the Senate approved the House-passed measure without changing a word, it now goes directly to Bush for his signature.
The resolution gives Bush the power to use American military force to enforce United Nations orders that Saddam dispose of his weapons of mass destruction. It encourages Bush to seek U.N. cooperation in such a campaign but does not require it.
"The House of Representatives has spoken clearly to the world and to the United Nations Security Council: The gathering threat of Iraq must be confronted fully and finally," Bush said after the House vote.
The president has stressed, however, that he has made no decision on launching a military strike against Iraq.
"Today's vote ... sends a clear message to the Iraqi regime: You must disarm and comply with all existing U.N. resolutions or (you) will be forced to comply. There are no other options for the Iraqi regime. There can be no negotiations. The days of Iraq acting as an outlaw state are coming to an end," the president said.
At the State Department, spokesman Richard Boucher said "talks are progressing" at the Security Council on wording of a strong new resolution to disarm Iraq. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
