March 4, 2003

Ms. Karen...
Long Beach, California

Dear Ms...:

Thank you for writing me regarding a possible confrontation with Iraq. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.

I believe we need to employ every tool at our disposal to protect our nation, including, if necessary, the use of our armed forces. However, before we resort to using force against Iraq, the Administration must exhaust all other options.

I have always supported a multilateral approach toward Iraq and I strongly believe that war must be a last resort. That is why I joined several of my colleagues two weeks ago to introduce a resolution that stated:

The U.N. weapons inspectors should be given sufficient time to carry out their work, and collect the data, necessary for a thorough assessment of the level of compliance by Iraq;

The United States and other member nations of the Security Council should work together to exhaust all peaceful and diplomatic means for disarming Iraq before launching an invasion;

International emissaries should be given adequate time to pursue ways to persuade Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq voluntarily and avert war; and

The United States should seek a specific authorization for the use of force from the U.N. Security Council.

Despite our strong belief that this resolution should be passed by the Senate, if brought to the floor today, sadly, it would fail. Therefore, it is up to the U.N. Security Council. It must be ready to act.

As long as Saddam Hussein sees a divided world community, he is almost certain to continue his course of denial and deception. In the end, Hussein must be presented with a clear and binding ultimatum, backed by a United Security Council, if war is to be avoided.

I understand the seriousness of this issue and I thank you for sharing your views with me. If you should have additional comments or questions regarding this issue please access my website at feinstein.senate.gov, or contact my Washington DC staff at 202-224-3841.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator
http://feinstein.senate.gov

Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the Nation are available at my website http://feinstein.senate.gov. You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at http://feinstein.senate.gov/issue.html .

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