GARY T. KUBOTA / GKUBOTA@STARBULLETIN.COM
About 50 people held signs along Kaahumanu Avenue on Maui yesterday protesting President Bush's move toward a war against Iraq.
CIA chief says Iraq WASHINGTON >> Saddam Hussein's apparent policy of not resorting to terrorist attacks against the United States could change if he concludes a U.S.-led attack against him was inevitable, CIA Director George Tenet said as President's Bush bid for congressional support to use force hit a snag in the Senate.
may resort to attacks
Both houses are expected
Bush lays out case against Iraq
to approve a Bush resolution
Europe still skeptical over going to war
By Jim Abrams
Associated PressTenet, in a letter read before a joint hearing of the House and Senate intelligence committees today, said that "Baghdad for now appears to be drawing a line short of conducting terrorist attacks with conventional or chemical or biological weapons."
But Tenet went on to say that should Saddam conclude that a U.S.-led attack against his country could not be deterred, "he probably would become much less constrained in adopting terrorist action."
Both the House and the Senate were debating the Iraq war resolution.
But while it appeared to be clear sailing for the measure in the GOP-led House, Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., served notice on other Democrats at a party luncheon that he intended to use parliamentary tactics to delay a final vote, according to those who attended the session.
That could delay the vote well into next week, suggested Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-W.Va.
Byrd, widely respected for his deep knowledge of the Senate rules, has emerged as the primary Senate opponent to the president's war resolution.
The House began a fateful three-day debate on the measure on today. The Senate, which has been debating the measure since last Thursday, resumed its debate.
If forced into war, "We will prevail," President Bush told a Tennessee audience.
"At this moment, the people's house begins debate on one of the most difficult questions we will ever face," said Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif.
The House hoped to conclude by Thursday night. The measure before both chambers provides the president wide latitude to take military action to disarm Saddam of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons and, if possible, depose the Iraqi leader.
Anticipating an overwhelming vote of support in Congress, Bush told a Knoxville, Tenn., rally today, "Military option is my last choice, the last choice. But should we commit our military, we'll be ready. We'll be prepared. We'll have a great plan and make no mistake about it, we will prevail."
Secretary of State Colin Powell, meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, said the congressional resolution "will definitely strengthen my hand as I try to do the diplomatic work up in New York to get a United Nations Security Council resolution" requiring unimpeded arms inspections in Iraq. Powell said there was increasing support at the U.N. for a new inspections mandate. "All of my colleagues at the United Nations and others I've spoken to around the world clearly see the threat," he said.
At the Pentagon, a Defense Intelligence Agency official told reporters that Saddam is actively making biological and chemical weapons -- and trying to hide that fact from the world.
Iraq is "taking steps to conceal sensitive equipment and documentation in anticipation of new inspections," John Yurechko said.
In a somber address to the nation last evening, Bush said the threat from Iraq was unique and imminent and there was no time to wait for final proof that Saddam had developed a nuclear capability -- "the smoking gun -- that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud. While there are many dangers in the world, the threat from Iraq stands alone because it gathers the most serious dangers of our age in one place," the president said.
Bush told a Cincinnati audience in his televised speech that Saddam was "a homicidal dictator who is addicted to weapons of mass destruction," and that if he succeeds in obtaining nuclear weapons to add to his biological and chemical stockpiles, he "would be in a position to blackmail anyone who opposes his aggression.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS U.S. Air Force officers watched President Bush address the nation on TV yesterday at Bagram air base, northeast of Kabul, Afghanistan.
In last night's address, President Bush argued that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein: Bush lays out case against Iraq
>> Poses a danger to America that "could be far more deadly" than al-Qaida's attacks on New York and Washington, which Saddam's regime "gleefully celebrated.">> Could have a nuclear weapon in less than a year, although U.S. intelligence agencies issued a report on Friday estimating 2010. Bush cited satellite photos suggesting Iraq is rebuilding facilities at known nuclear sites.
>> Has ballistic missiles that can reach Saudi Arabia, Israel and Turkey in a region where 135,000 American civilians and military personnel live.
>> Has a growing fleet of aerial vehicles capable of spreading chemical and biological weapons, and is working on ways to have them reach the United States.
>> Trained members of Osama bin Laden's terror network in bomb-making, poisons and gases, and gave medical treatment earlier this year to an unnamed "very senior" al-Qaida leader.
>> Used billions of dollars in illegal oil revenue to buy weapons materiel in violation of United Nations sanctions.
>> Has ordered the Iraqi military to fire on American and British pilots more than 750 times in the past year as they patrolled no-fly zones.
>> Is a "student of Stalin" who has ordered political opponents decapitated and their wives and mothers raped as a method of intimidation, and has forced political prisoners to watch their children being tortured.
>> Has produced thousands of tons of mustard gas and nerve gas, and is believed to maintain a stockpile of 60,000 to 120,000 liters of anthrax and other deadly biological agents.
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MOSCOW >> President Bush's call for greater pressure on Iraq won guarded support in Asia and Australia today, but his threats failed to overcome widespread skepticism in Europe, where most nations are deeply concerned by the prospects of war. Europe still skeptical
over going to war
Associated Press
Iraq said Bush's address last night aimed to justify an "illegitimate" attack on it. Iraqis and other Arabs said the speech showed Washington's determination for war, but the Egyptian and Jordanian governments said they were pleased by Bush's statement that war was not "imminent or unavoidable."
Britain was the exception in Europe to the prevailing lack of enthusiasm for Bush's tough line. Prime Minister Tony Blair said he shared "the same analysis" of the threat posed by Iraq and that both countries wanted the United Nations to make clear its determination to disarm Iraq.
Bush's speech last night rounded up much of the administration's case for an assault on Iraq, with Bush calling Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein a "murderous tyrant." He said Saddam may be planning to attack the United States with biological or chemical weapons and could have a nuclear bomb in less than a year. Bush said he would "act with the full power of the United States military" against Saddam unless declare and destroy all of its weapons of mass destruction, end support for terrorism and cease persecution of its civilians. The speech was seen in part as an attempt to rally reluctant allies abroad.
