House OKs use of force against Iraq Most Democrats oppose; Daschle throws support to Bush MSNBC STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 — House lawmakers voted solidly Thursday to grant presidential authority to use force against Iraq, approving a resolution endorsed by President Bush and House leaders from both parties. The Senate was prepared to act in chorus, rejecting by a 75-25 vote a bid by opponents to slow down a final vote. “MR. PRESIDENT, we are about to give you a great trust,” said Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas. The vote was 296 to 133, a strong endorsement of Bush’s insistence that he will work with the United Nations if possible but alone if necessary to disarm Iraqi President Saddam Hussein of his weapons of mass destruction. A majority of Democrats voted against the resolution — even though their House leader, Dick Gephardt, was one of its authors. Earlier, the last holdout among major Democratic congressional leaders, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, announced that he had put aside his misgivings and supported the Bush resolution, and the Senate moved toward a vote by the end of the day Friday. “I believe it is important for America to speak with one voice,” Daschle declared. Previously, Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat, had not signed onto the agreement moving through Congress, which was the product of negotiations between the White House and House leaders. Daschle said the measure still has shortcomings, but he called it an improvement over the administration’s initial request for broad authority. The bipartisan agreement gives the president most of the powers he asked for, allowing him to act without going through the United Nations. But in a concession to Democratic concerns, it encourages him to exhaust all diplomatic means first and requires he report to Congress every 60 days if he does take action.
So how is this different from Senate Concurrent Resolution 71 passed in '98? But in a concession to Democratic concerns, it encourages him to exhaust all diplomatic means first and requires he report to Congress every 60 days if he does take action. One of the only differences I see is that they didn't require this of Clinton in '98.
