James Sensenbrenner, May 2, 2003

Since the end of the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the world has continually butted heads with Iraq’s leader Saddam Hussein, over his non-compliance with the United Nations’ (UN) resolutions implemented after that war. For the most part, over the last 13 years, the UN has tried to encourage Mr. Hussein to comply with these resolutions through diplomatic means. But they simply didn’t work.

Then the United States experienced the events of September 11, 2001, and everything changed. For the first time in our nation’s history, we were attacked by people who intentionally sacrificed their own lives, and willingly took the lives of innocent Americans, to further some cause that at best can be described as misguided, and at worst, evil.

If there is one lesson America learned from the terrorist attacks of September 11, it is that we now need to be more vigilant in protecting ourselves from people who would do us harm, both within our borders, as well as all over the world. We learned that terrorists, and the nations that harbor them, can no longer be ignored or slapped on the wrist. When the President declared the war on terrorism, I supported his decision. When he started encouraging the UN to do its job by enforcing its resolutions relative to Iraq, I supported him. During the months prior to the March 19 announcement which signaled the beginning of military actions in Iraq, President Bush tried to work with the UN and the world to continue to persuade Mr. Hussein to allow the UN weapons inspectors to do their job. But eventually, after being repeatedly snubbed by the dictator who violated additional, more recent UN resolutions, the President, with the support of dozens of countries, made the difficult decision to commence military action in Iraq.

Make no mistake, the war in Iraq isn’t about taking over its oilfields, or an act of arrogance on the part of the United States, as many war protestors have claimed. This war is an extension of the war on terrorism, and Saddam Hussein could have prevented this action. But, he chose to disregard the authority of the UN, and the will of the world. Because of our experience on September 11, the United States knew it did not have the luxury to continue to wait for this dictator to perhaps change his mind while our intelligence indicated that he possessed weapons of mass destruction. If these weapons were to fall into the wrong hands, our nation could encounter another September 11, and to the President’s credit, that scenario was unacceptable.

On May 1, 2003, approximately six weeks after it all began, the President addressed the nation yet again. Although he made clear that our efforts in Iraq are not over, he did say that major combat in Iraq was finished, and he proclaimed this speedy military operation to be a success in improving the security of our nation, as well as in liberating the people of Iraq from Mr. Hussein’s brutal regime.

I agree.

One need only look at televised reports of Iraq showing jubilant people in the streets cheering President Bush and cursing Saddam Hussein to see the effects of freedom on an oppressed citizenry. For the first time in decades the people of Iraq are able to express their views and opinions without fear of imprisonment, torture, or worse. And as an American, I feel more secure knowing that at least one source of weapons of mass destruction for terrorists has been eliminated. I don’t want this country to have to experience another day like that fateful Tuesday in September, and I am proud of our President for making the difficult decisions that will make America a safer place.

James Sensenbrenner, Jr., is a Republican Member of Congress representing the Fifth Congressional District of Wisconsin. He chairs the House Judiciary Committee.