US Officials Assure Senators on Iraq Deal, but Concerns Remain

Top US cabinet officials assured worried senators yesterday that the US has not "swallowed" a U.N.-brokered agreement with Iraq and plans to test Saddam Hussein's commitment to allow weapons inspections as soon as possible. The officials, including Defense Secretary William S. Cohen and Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, briefed lawmakers on the tentative agreement reached between Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. However, key Republicans expressed concerns about the seriousness of the deal and the Clinton administration's overall approach to the region.

Key Takeaways:

• US officials, including Defense Secretary William S. Cohen and Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, assured senators that the US has not "swallowed" the U.N.-brokered agreement with Iraq.
• Key Republicans, including Sen. John McCain, expressed concerns about the seriousness of the deal and the Clinton administration's overall approach to the region.
• Sen. Daniel R. Coats expressed concern that differing interpretations of the accord at the United Nations, at the White House, and on Capitol Hill could be exploited by Saddam to get around weapons inspections.
• Mrs. Albright made clear that the administration is not yet fully convinced that the agreement is in compliance with Baghdad's 1991 promise at the end of the Persian Gulf war to open up its biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons sites to U.N. inspections.
• Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut Democrat, reported that Mrs. Albright said, "Please don't conclude that we have swallowed this agreement."
• A congressional resolution supporting U.S. military action against Baghdad was considered, but several senators wanted to delay it in light of the tentative diplomatic solution.
• GOP Sens. Richard G. Lugar and John W. Warner urged the Senate to move ahead with a resolution supporting U.S. military action if the U.N. agreement is violated.
• Sen. John Warner urged the United States to "hit him and hit him hard" if Saddam fails to meet the test within 90 days.

Statistics:

• 90 days: the timeframe within which Saddam Hussein should be tested under a proposed congressional resolution.
• 1991: the year in which Baghdad promised to open up its biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons sites to U.N. inspections.
• 2 officials: Defense Secretary William S. Cohen and Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright briefed lawmakers on the tentative agreement.

Sources:

• The Washington Post, October 2, 1997.
• The Washington Times, October 2, 1997.