News Releases

Enzi: President seizing opportunities to win war

March 20, 2003

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., continues to closely monitor the events taking place in and around Iraq. He made the following comments the morning and afternoon of March 20.

Further comments from Enzi regarding the Iraq conflict will be issued as the situation develops.

He is supporting Senate Resolution 95, which expresses support for our troops. The Senate passed the resolution 99-0 this evening. The text of the resolution follows Enzi's comments.

"Last night President Bush sent our planes and missiles in to strike directly at the head of the snake, Saddam Hussein and his chief military leaders. We aren't sure how successful the surgical strike was, but regardless if the targets were taken out or not, this tactic sends an important message. We are out to win this war and win it swiftly. The President will make good use of every possible opportunity to bring about quick victory against those who threaten us, Saddam and his military. No doubt we will employ other tactics as we enter different battle scenarios.

"As our troops move into Iraq, they are heading into unknown dangers and trouble that can not be accurately predicted, though they have been trained and will be prepared for it. I will pray and I ask all of my fellow Wyomingites and countrymen to join me in praying for the safety and victory of our brave men and women in our military and the leadership of our President. "Saddam was given ample time, ample opportunity to comply with his obligations with more than a dozen years and more than a dozen UN resolutions. He has made a game out of international relationships. The security and safety of the American people and the world is no game.

"When this war is over and Iraq is free, we will have sent a message to all those who would deny their people the basic rights of human existence. The world will no longer tolerate their abuse of power and their refusal to acknowledge or respond to the needs of their people. We will also have ended the regime of a dictator and eliminated his stock of weapons of mass destruction. We will have taken a strong, decisive action which will help to increase the security of our nation and the world.

"One level of this conflict is psychological. We are taking strategic steps to win this part of the war too. I commend our President and our military leaders for their careful planning and ability to act decisively. Our aim is to disarm Iraq and oust its leaders who would use weapons of mass destruction against their neighbors and against us, so we are going directly after those leaders. Each move by our military is designed to separate the Iraqi military from the Iraqi people, the Iraqi people who have been oppressed by a tyrannical dictator and yearn to experience freedom and a life free from fear.

"Another aspect of the war is financial. I will assure our troops right now that whatever they need to keep them safe, to help them do their job better to win this war they will have it. We will pass a supplemental budget specifically to provide for their needs. This Congress and this country is behind them all the way. They will have the best equipment and supplies. We will provide the best for the best fighting force this world has ever seen."

-end-

S. Res. 95


Commending the President
and the Armed Forces of the United States of America


Senators Frist, Daschle, Warner and Levin

Whereas Saddam Hussein has failed to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 678, 686, 687, 688, 707, 715, 949, 1051, 1060, 1115, 1134, 1137, 1154, 1194, 1205, 1284, and 1441;

Whereas the military action now underway against Iraq is lawful and fully authorized by the Congress in Sec. 3(a) of Public Law 107-243, which passed the Senate on October 10, 2002, by a vote of 77-23, and which passed the House of Representatives on that same date by a vote of 296-133;

Whereas more than 225,000 men and women of the United States Armed Forces are now involved in conflict against Iraq;

Whereas over 200,000 members of the Reserves and National Guard have been called to active duty for the conflict against Iraq and other purposes; and

Whereas the Congress and the American people have the greatest pride in the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, and the civilian personnel supporting them, and strongly support them in their efforts;

Now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that Congress –

(1) commends and supports the efforts and leadership of the President, as Commander in Chief, in the conflict against Iraq;

(2) commends, and expresses the gratitude of the Nation to all members of the United States Armed Forces (whether on active duty, in the National Guard, or in the Reserves) and the civilian employees who support their efforts, as well as the men and women of civilian national security agencies who are participating in the military operations in the Persian Gulf region, for their professional excellence, dedicated patriotism and exemplary bravery;

(3) commends and expresses the gratitude of the Nation to the family members of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and civilians serving in operations against Iraq who have borne the burden of sacrifice and separation from their loved ones;

(4) expresses its deep condolences to the families of brave Americans who have lost their lives in this noble undertaking, over many years, against Iraq;

(5) joins all Americans in remembering those who lost their lives during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1991, those still missing from that conflict, including Captain Scott Speicher, USN, and the thousands of Americans who have lost their lives in terrorist attacks over the years, and in the Global War on Terrorism; and

(6) expresses sincere gratitude to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his government for their courageous and steadfast support, as well as gratitude to other allied nations for their military support, logistical support, and other assistance in the campaign against Saddam Hussein's regime.







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