Nick Smith, August 11, 2002

President Bush has announced a policy of "regime change" in Iraq. The specifics, however, are still being debated, with suggestions that some kind of U.S.-led invasion could be in the works. The Administration will have to present its case to Congress and the American people. In the International Relations Committee, we have been considering the Iraqi threat to national security and our options to counter that threat.

Recent Iraqi history has been turbulent. After centuries as a part of the Ottoman Empire, what is now Iraq became a British protectorate at the end of World War I. The Kingdom of Iraq gained its independence and entered into the League of Nations in 1932, enjoying a period of relatively stable rule. The discovery of significant oil resources bolstered the economy. In 1958, the monarchy was overthrown in a coup led by army officers. There followed a series of coups and upheavals until another coup installed the Ba'ath party in power in 1968. Saddam Hussein served as Vice President under the Ba'ath regime until ascending to power in 1979.

A year after seizing power, Saddam started a war with Iran by declaring previous agreements over the Iraqi/Iranian borders void and claiming Iran's share of the Shatt el-Arab strait. The Iran-Iraq War, which began 5 days later on September 22, 1980, lasted for eight years and had a crippling effect on both countries. At its conclusion, no territory had been gained by either side but an estimated one million lives had been lost.

Two years after that war ended, Saddam attacked, overran, and then annexed Kuwait, leading to the Gulf War. The United States almost immediately gained the support of the United Nations Security Council and the Arab League. In November 1990, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 678, permitting member states to use all necessary means to expel Iraqi forces occupying Kuwait. After the allied victory under American leadership, Iraq accepted a permanent ceasefire stipulating the disclosure and destruction of all stockpiles of weapons to be verified by inspections.

Throughout his regime, Saddam has abused his people and flouted the ceasefire agreement. Freedom of expression within Iraq is sharply curtailed, and many thousands of dissidents have been held in his political prisons or executed. His efforts to acquire nuclear, chemical and biological weapons have been documented to Members of Congress. He has actually used chemical weapons against his own people in the Kurdish areas of Northern Iraq. Some nuclear, biological and chemical weapons facilities were dismantled after the Gulf War, but our intelligence services report that many of these have been rebuilt. Further, the regime is believed to possess some amount of refined uranium and has reportedly attempted to buy nuclear weapons.

Iraq clearly deserves its place within the "axis of evil" and we must consider what action is most likely to eliminate the threat from Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Iraq has been accused of having some role in the September 11 attacks. Hijacker Mohamed Atta was reportedly seen meeting with an Iraqi intelligence officer in Prague before the attack. Proof of the meeting, however, has not been verified. Saddam Hussein is already reacting to this Administration's determination. From our Committee briefings, I know President Bush will not settle for anything less than real change. The United States can't be the policeman for the world, but neither can we put off dealing with real threats to our country.

Congressman Nick Smith, a Republican, represents Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives.