LIHUE >> Members of the Kauai County Council are defending their decision to pass a resolution opposing a pre-emptive U.S. military strike against Iraq unless it can be shown Saddam Hussein has nuclear and biological weapons that pose an imminent threat to the United States. Kauai defends its
anti-war resolution
Associated PressOn Wednesday, Council members explained last week's decision to pass the resolution, which also asks the Bush administration and Hawaii's congressional delegation to work with the United Nations to encourage Iraq to comply with a U.N. resolution calling for peaceful disarmament.
Councilman Daryl Kaneshiro said he would not have voted for the resolution if it had called for "no war." Kaneshiro said that if Iraq fails to comply and war is inevitable, then so be it.
"If we had to go in and remove this guy who has these weapons of mass destruction, this tyrant, I have no problem with that," Kaneshiro said.
Councilman Mel Rapozo said voting for the resolution was a "tough call" for him.
"I agree with President Bush that Saddam Hussein and Iraq must be dealt with," perhaps unilaterally, said Rapozo, a 21-year veteran of the Hawaii Air National Guard. "Personally, I hope we could get the support of the U.N."
County of Kauai
