Shuster backs Bush on war with Iraq
Fresh off a congressional briefing this week the day after President Bush’s State of the Union address, U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Hollidaysburg) believes war with Iraq is “weeks rather than months” away.
Shuster, whose 9th District includes eastern Fayette County, said war appears imminent, even though no one wants to see that happen. “I don’t think anybody wants to go to war, the president of the United States included. But the situation is such that it might require the president to do that,” said Shuster.
The congressman cited Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s history of aggression, including use of chemical weapons against own people. Shuster also said that Iraq has produced and maintains a large supply of weapons of mass destruction, and has disregarded surrender terms from the Persian Gulf War a decade ago.
“They’ve continued to build, and they’ve been actively trying to acquire materials to build a nuclear weapon,” said Shuster, who added that Secretary of State Colin Powell would reveal more details when he addresses the United Nations this week.
“I think we’re all going to be privy to some (additional) information on Feb. 5.”
Shuster said he attended a briefing Wednesday with Powell, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield and the deputy CIA director.
“They laid out the case. I’ve heard these things before … there’s no doubt he’s buying materials, tubes that are needed to produce enriched uranium, in clandestine ways,” said Shuster. “I believe Secretary Powell is going to show some satellite imagery that is going to show, pretty clear, what has been going on there in the last five or six months.”
Shuster said that while there is no smoking gun in the way of absolute proof, one isn’t necessary in this case. “If we find a smoking gun, it will be too late,” he said. “I believe we need to act sooner than later. Every day that (Saddam’s) able to hide and continue to build nuclear weapons is a day in his favor. The evidence is there, I believe.
“He’s a dictator in the same mold as Hitler and Stalin. I guess the facts are coming out now that he’s killed more than 2 million people in his own country.”
While four European nations, led by France and Germany, have lined up against going to war with Iraq, Shuster noted that eight European nations recently supported the move in a newspaper opinion piece. He said that members of the al-Qaida terrorist network are moving in and out of Baghdad “regularly” and invoked the Sept. 11 attacks as justification for a pre-emptive strike.
“I certainly don’t want to see (war) casualties,” said Shuster. “But I think the key question to ask people is, ‘If we knew the events of 9/11 were going to occur, would we have acted pre-emptively?’ I think the majority of people would have said yes. It’s the same situation here.”
Shuster said what while it may not contain as many nations as the one formed in 1991, he believes a coalition of nearly as many will line up to support taking action against Iraq. He added that the American public should expect war sooner rather than later, partially because of climate concerns.
“I think we’re looking at weeks rather than months,” said Shuster. “There’s also the situation of the heat. The temperature in Iraq will increase and make it difficult for our troops to operate in protective gear.”
Shuster said Saddam could avert war by either leaving his country or cooperating with the UN weapons inspectors. “But I don’t think he’s going to,” said the congressman, who gave Bush high marks for outlining his Iraq stand during his Tuesday night address.
“I thought his speech was very good. I think he really laid it out to the American people, without giving out some sensitive information,” said Shuster. “He made his case. I agree with the president and I think that a large percentage of the free world will be with us in this coalition.”
Shuster noted that a couple of weeks ago, NATO nations voted 15-4 in favor of proceeding with planning for a military operation in Iraq, with only France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg opposed.