Saddam Hussein should be ousted, three prominent Democratic lawmakers said amid disclosure of a presidential order giving the CIA broader discretion to take action against the Iraqi leader.
"If Saddam Hussein's around five years from now, we've failed," said Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., D-Del., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Asked if the plan to give the CIA broader authority had given him any pause, Biden said, "Only if it doesn't work."
Support for enlarging the CIA's role against Iraq came Sunday from three potential Democratic presidential candidates in 2004: Biden on CBS' "Face the Nation," Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota on "Fox News Sunday" and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri on ABC's "This Week."
The administration "is trying to bring about a change in regime. ... I think it is an appropriate action to take," Gephardt said, according to AP.
The Democrats, along with Republicans in Congress, cited Saddam's alleged pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and violations of United Nations resolutions and international law as justification for such a move.
Meanwhile, according to The Times, the Iraqi President has ordered the military to bolster the country’s weakened defenses. According to this British report, the Saddam has recently told regional commanders to prepare defenses against US forces. Each major urban center will be garrisoned with reinforcements and local commanders allowed to declare a state of emergency and operate autonomously if attacked. (Albawaba.com)
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