DUGOUT BRIEFING WITH TRENT LOTT (R-MS)
SENATE MINORITY LEADER

UNITED STATES SENATE

July 31, 2002

Excerpt

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Q Senator, on Iraq -- on Iraq, Senators Feinstein and Leahy introduced a resolution yesterday saying that the president must come to Congress for either congressional approval -- some kind of congressional approval or declaration of war before there's any action in Iraq. Do you agree with that? Is that necessary for the president to do?

SEN. LOTT: I don't think that that action is necessary by the Congress. You can debate it, and you can go back and look at what it says, but we do have a War Powers Act on the books, number one.

Q (Off mike.)

SEN. LOTT: No, I'm talking about the War Powers Act that dates back to the '70s, which, you know, is clearly what presidents must do when they introduce troops and when they have to report. You know, that may be a requirement to report after a certain period of time, but, I mean, that probably is applicable.

I understand -- I don't want to divulge anything here, but, you know, I suspect that al Qaeda elements are in Iraq. The resolution we passed, we made it very clear the president has the authority to pursue the al Qaeda wherever they may be found, in whatever country, which could very well include Iraq. But I don't think we need to get into that debate now.

To have a discussion about what's happening in Iraq, what is going on with Saddam Hussein, what is he doing in terms of development of mass -- weapons of mass destruction, you know, what is he doing to the people, how destabilizing is he to the region, should we act -- all of that is a legitimate area for members of Congress to have with themselves and with experts, with the administration, to have hearings.

But I think, you know, what you're talking about there is just a blatant political move that's not helpful. You know, what do they want us to say, "Oh, Mr. Saddam Hussein, we're coming, we're coming! Get ready! You can expect us, you know, two weeks after election day. And by the way, here's the way we're coming. But before we do that, we'll have a huge debate so you'll know full well exactly what's going on."

Give me a break! That's just pure partisan politics.

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