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Cheney Says Bush to Consult With Congress Over Iraq
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U.S. President will consult with Congress over to attack Iraq over issues such as the alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction.
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SAN
ANTONIO, Texas, Aug 30 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - As
administration officials said U.S. President George W. Bush will seek
congressional approval before striking Iraq, Vice President Dick
Cheney said Thursday Bush will consult with Congress and Washington's
allies before deciding whether to launch a pre-emptive strike against
Saddam Hussein.
The
officials, however, could not say what form that congressional
approval would take.
"I
am confident that he will, as he said he would, consult widely with
our Congress, with our friends and allies around the world before
deciding on a course of action," Cheney told a gathering of
Korean War veterans here.
"He
[Bush] welcomes the debate that has been joined here at home, and he
has made it clear to his national security team that he wants us to
participate fully in the hearings that will be held in Congress next
month on this vitally important issue," he added.
In
a speech that was more conciliatory in parts than one on the same
subject earlier this week, Cheney said he expected the U.S. president
to proceed cautiously before committing U.S. forces to any military
campaign.
But
the vice president, widely reported to be a hawk on the issue of going
to war against Iraq,
again underscored the threat posed by the regime of Iraqi president
Saddam Hussein, saying there is "no doubt" the Iraqi leader
already has weapons of mass destruction.
With
weapons of mass destruction, and 10% of the world's oil reserves,
Saddam Hussein could "be expected to seek domination of the
entire Middle East ... and subject the United States or any other
nation to nuclear blackmail," Cheney added.
Speaking
at a political fundraiser in Oklahoma, Bush, meanwhile, made the same
point, reiterating his determination to move against Iraq, while stressing that he would not move hastily.
"We
must not allow the world's worst leaders to develop and harbor the
world's worst weapons," he said, adding "I've got a lot of
tools at my disposal and I'm a patient man."
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