WASHINGTON — Members of Congress urged the Bush administration on Sunday to use Saddam Hussein’s capture as an opportunity to internationalize the war effort in Iraq.
Democrats and Republicans alike also cautioned that despite the ousted Iraqi president’s arrest, much work remains to create a democratic Iraq, made more difficult by the probable continuation of violence against the American occupation forces and Iraqi civilians.
With Hussein in custody, said Sen. Rick Santorum, the Senate’s third-ranking Republican, surely the time has come for reluctant allies to throw their forces into the effort to bring democracy and stability to Iraq.
"With Saddam gone, maybe there will be another opportunity to relook at the situation and understand that it is in everybody’s best interest to participate in this process," Santorum said.
A longtime advocate of internationalizing the U.S.-led operation, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., said the United States could avoid sending more troops to Iraq if Hussein’s capture should increase the possibility of internationalizing the coalition.
"We (may) actually really internationalize this, bring NATO in, bring the big dogs in, so to speak, and not have any need to add more American troops," said Biden, on NBC’s "Meet the Press."
In New York, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a statement that Hussein’s capture could help stabilize Iraq.
"It offers an opportunity to give fresh impetus to the search for peace and stability in Iraq, on the basis of an inclusive and fully transparent process," Annan said. He reiterated U.N. readiness "to do everything possible to help Iraqis, if asked and as circumstances permit."
Copyright ©2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
