US Lawmakers Push for Military Aid to Oust Saddam

Strategic Insights -

US lawmakers, led by House International Relations Committee Chairman Ben Gilman and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, announced plans to introduce a bill that would provide $97 million in military aid to democratic opponents of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. They aim to "finally and irrevocably" commit the United States to the overthrow of Saddam, citing the need for a more active and direct support of the opposition. The move follows earlier Congressional action to provide $20 million in nonmilitary aid to anti-Saddam organizations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US lawmakers plan to introduce a bill providing $97 million in military aid to democratic opponents of Saddam Hussein, with $2 million allocated for broadcasts from outside Iraq.
  • The legislation would give the Pentagon the authority to provide military equipment and assistance to Saddam's opponents, taken from existing Pentagon stocks.
  • The move is a direct response to the perceived weakness of the Clinton administration's policy on Iraq, with lawmakers arguing that it is time to "move beyond political support to direct military assistance".
  • Critics of the Clinton administration's policy, including arms expert Scott Ritter, have accused the White House of undermining UN inspections of Iraqi nuclear, ballistic, and chemical weapons sites.
  • The testifiers expressed their concerns and dissatisfaction with the Clinton administration's policy in part because of disputes over the inspections policy, leading to Ritter's resignation from the UN inspections team.

Statistics:

  • $97 million in military aid proposed for democratic opponents of Saddam Hussein.
  • $2 million allocated for broadcasts from outside Iraq.
  • $20 million in nonmilitary aid provided earlier this year to anti-Saddam organizations.

Sources:

  • Reuters, WASHINGTON, [No date mentioned]