PREPARED TESTIMONY OF

AHMAD CHALABI,
Iraqi National Congress

Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

June 28, 2000

Thank you Senators. This is the third time I have testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as the representative of the Iraqi National Congress, and the Iraqi people. Each time it is a greater honor. I am joined here today by the entire leadership of the Iraqi National Congress and I am proud to bring you our united message to the United States government.

Unfortunately, on this occasion, I am the bearer of bad news. Since my last testimony a year ago, Saddam Hussein has become a greater threat to the Iraqi people, to the Middle East region, and to the interests of the United States.

Saddam's dictatorship is based on three pillars: Money, foreign support, and terror. On all three fronts he is resurgent.

Manipulation of the oil for food program, illegal smuggling of oil, and extortion of the Iraqi people are now providing Saddam with billions in cash for internal repression and external aggression -- including massive investments in nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs, now unrestricted by United Nations inspections.

Foreign governments, including those of United States allies such as Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE have restored full diplomatic relations with the Iraqi dictatorship -- providing Saddam's weapons acquisition and terror networks with unfettered access to the outside world. Russia, France and other significant countries such as Italy are working for Saddam's interests on the international stage.

Saddam's internal terror continues to destroy our people, and his abilities for external aggression are increased, as a result of his increased funds and his increased foreign diplomatic access.

Even so, however, Saddam remains vulnerable. Inside Iraq, he is continuously challenged by the Iraqi people --- united in their hatred of his tyranny. In the north, in Iraqi Kurdistan, Saddam's authority is weak, extending only to intelligence operatives and paid agents. In the north, Iraqi National Congress member parties administer over 50,000 square kilometers of Iraqi territory independently and in opposition to Saddam.

Southern Iraq is in a state of latent revolution, punctuated by increasing armed rebellion against the regime. In the audience today is Seyid Kadhim Al-Batatt, a leader of the Iraqi National Congress' southern resistance to Saddam's regime. He left Iraq this weekend, to bring us news of the fighting and a plea for US protection and support.

In Baghdad, Saddam is continuously challenged, his security forces only able to suppress -- not to preempt -- frequent and large scale uprisings against his authority.It is this universal Iraqi opposition to Saddam Hussein which the Iraqi National Congress embodies and which is the only avenue towards peace in Iraq -- a peace which can only be secured by Saddam's overthrow and the establishment of a new, popular, and democratic Iraqi government.

The benefits from Saddam's overthrow are clear: The Iraqi people will be free, free to govern themselves, free to cherish their children, free to employ their talents for good. The region will be free, free from the fear of Saddam's war-making, free from Saddam's terrorism and free from the threat of Saddam's inhuman weapons of mass destruction. And the United States, as sole superpower, will be free from its excessive military commitments arrayed against a megalomaniac dictator who survives only on the indecision and contradictions of United States and international policies.

Which leads me to my central point. Saddam's future, the future of the Iraqi people, and the future of the Middle East are dependent on the actions of the United States. It is an indisputable fact. If the United States is committed to Saddam's overthrow and the establishment of an Iraqi democratic government it can happen and happen quickly. If the United States is not committed, our struggle for freedom will be long, painful and bloody -both for the Iraqi people and the world.

The Congress of the United States has recognized this fact and moved decisively against Saddam. By overwhelming bi-partisan majorities in both the House and the Senate, duly signed by the President, Congress has appropriated funds, provided constitutional authority and ordered military support to the Iraqi National Congress. The Iraq Liberation Act, the centerpiece of these Congressional efforts, is historic legislation In the ILA, for the first time, the United States has overtly committed itself to the overthrow of an illegal dictatorship and to support for the establishment of a democratic government in its place. The Iraqi people are forever grateful.

The Iraq Liberation Act is United States law. President Clinton signed the (LA on December 31, 1998. On November 15, 1998, he made the (LA the centerpiece of his Iraq policy.

Yet, despite bold words and professed commitment, almost nothing has been done. There has been virtually no military drawdown, less than $20,000 from a $97 million authority. There has been virtually no financial support, less that $100,000 actually given to the INC.

This inaction is unfortunately part of a bitter history for the Iraqi National Congress' relations with the US. In 1996, the INC was abandoned to Saddam's invasion of northern Iraq despite US guarantees of protection -- not only to the INC but to the 3.5 million Iraqis in the area.

Since that time, the INC has been routinely disparaged by administration officials from the NSC, the CIA, the State Department and the Department of Defense. And, while blaming the victim may provide temporary political cover for betrayal of US interests, ideals and commitments, it has done little for the confidence of the Iraqi people or Iraq's neighbors.

Despite this record, the INC still looks to the United States for leadership, confident that the American people are with us against Saddam. And we are encouraged by the progress we have made in the last few days.Monday's meeting with Vice President AI Gore was very successful -- continuing a long record of support for the Iraqi people's interest by Mr. Gore. Senator Gore was one of the first US officials to condemn Saddam's genocide against the Iraqi Kurds m 1988. I first met him in 1991 and he was instrumental in the development of US support for the INC at that time. In 1993 he received the INC in Washington and again advanced our struggle against Saddam. Since that time, he has been one of the strongest voices for the interests of the Iraqi people in the United States and internationally. As he begins his presidential campaign, we welcome his clear calls for Saddam's overthrow and his forthright assertion that peace m the Middle East is impossible while Saddam remains in power.

Similarly, we welcome his actions this week as Vice President. US commitment to military training for the INC under (LA authority is a promising step in the right direction, as is yesterday's announcement of US support for the INC's humanitarian relief projects inside Iraq. With Vice President's Gore's sponsorship we expect speedy progress and tangible results.

Nonetheless, we cannot rely on rhetoric. Our task is too urgent and the need of the Iraqi people too great.

Our proposal for the $8 million in FY 2000 State Department Economic Support Funds appropriated to the INC is on the administration's desk and has been since November. If it is approved before the end of this month, we can begin humanitarian relief projects within 45 days and begin broadcasting operations in less than 30.

Our preliminary requests for material and training under the ILA have been submitted since February. If accepted by the end of this month, effective INC military units, intelligence teams and humanitarian aid workers can be operating in coordination with US support by the end of August.

We need these US actions immediately and are counting on the word of the Vice President to deliver them.

The United States faces a clear choice. Sanctions, bombing and containment are not a sustainable policy. Either Saddam must go, and go quickly, or he must be accommodated. If he is accommodated, he will quickly develop nuclear weapons and become the dominant military power in the Gulf. If he is overthrown, Iraq can become the peaceful and prosperous country which is the interest of its people, the region and the world.

Thank you.