S. RES. 28 - UN WEAPONS INSPECTORS

Introduced into the Senate on 29 January 2003 by Mr. Byrd (D-WV)

Co-sponsors: Mr. Kennedy (D-MA), Mr. Bingaman (D-NM), Ms. Feinstein (D-CA), Mr. Inouye (D-HI), Mr. Sarbanes (D-MD) and Ms. Boxer (D-CA).

          This resolution expresses the sense of the Senate that the UN weapons inspectors in Iraq should be allowed the time to thoroughly produce a assessment of the level of compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions by the Government of Iraq. Given the 27th January 2003 report by Hans Blix, Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC, and Dr. ElBaradei, IAEA Director General, who stated that the 27th January 2003 report was meant as an update to mark the beginning of the inspections, not the end. Also stated was that the inspections should be allowed to run a natural course. Furthermore, the developing situation in North Korea and the contradictory response by the United States casts doubts on the consistency and propriety of doctrine of preemption especially in the international community. Moreover, there is a growing concern that a war with Iraq would heighten a threat of terrorist attacks on American citizens at home including chemical, biological and nuclear attacks. Finally, key members of the UN Security Council: the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia and China expressed a belief that weapons inspectors need more time and urged the United States not to rush into a military strike against Iraq with out support from the Security Council.  The resolution contains the following provisions:

• The UN weapons inspectors should be given sufficient time to carry out inspections and collect the data that are necessary for a thorough assessment of Iraq's compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1441;

• US and other member states of the UN Security Council should work together to exhaust all peaceful and diplomatic means of disarming Iraq before launching invasion;

• International emissaries, including European and Arab leaders, should be given adequate time to pursue strategies to persuade Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq voluntarily and avert war;

• Before launching a military offensive in Iraq to enforce 1441 the US should seek a specific authorization for the use of force from the UN SC;

• US should re-engage the Middle East peace process in an effort to end the violence between the State of Israel and the Palestinians; and

• US should redouble efforts to secure the US homeland in light of the growing number of intelligence assessments highlighting the vulnerability of the United States for further terrorist attacks.

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