OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Statement Concerning Address to the United Nations by Secretary of State Colin Powell Regarding Iraq

Date: Feb. 5, 2003
Issues: Defense Foreign Affairs

Durbin Statement Regarding Address to the United Nations by Secretary of State Colin Powell Regarding Iraq

February 5, 2003

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement regarding the address to the United Nations Security Council by Secretary of State Colin Powell regarding Iraq:

"For months, I have urged this Administration to build a coalition of world support against Saddam Hussein and to honestly pursue inspections, diplomacy and every reasonable alternative to military conflict."

"With Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation to the U.N. today, we now have compelling, timely evidence of Saddam Hussein's deception, duplicity and efforts to thwart meaningful inspections."

"Even with this evidence, the United States should not unilaterally launch an invasion of Iraq. But make no mistake, time is running out for a peaceful resolution of this situation."

"A dangerous military confrontation can only be avoided if Saddam Hussein immediately reverses his course and cooperates fully with the U.N. inspection teams or abdicates as leader of Iraq."

"I believe the President should call for a coalition of Arab leaders to journey to Baghdad this week to make these realities clear to Saddam Hussein."

arrow_upward