Dear Mr. Hersh:

Thank you for contacting me to express your views about possible United States military action against Iraq. I appreciate having the benefit of your thoughtful comments and suggestions at this critical time.

I want to share with you my misgivings about undertaking a unilateral offensive against Iraq, independent of allies and partners or without consent from the Congress.

In the event that you did not see my interview on Maryland Public Television, in which the subject of Iraq was a central issue, I thought it would be helpful to outline the concerns I raised at that time.

First, it is my view that we must not divert our attention from Afghanistan until the military situation has been resolved and, further, until we have met the commitments we have undertaken to the reconstruction of a stable civil society, democratic political institutions, and a viable economy in that nation.

Second, the United States lacks the necessary support from countries in the region and in Europe, many of which have been outspoken in their opposition to a preemptive attack on Iraq.

Third, the policy of containment, astutely designed and carried out through many administrations for over half a century effectively deterred the former Soviet Union from using its tremendous arsenal of weapons of mass destruction. We would do well to consider this experience in evaluating our approach to the Iraqi threat.

As you may know, following his address to the United Nations the President submitted a resolution to the Congress seeking authority for military action against Iraq.

After carefully reviewing this resolution, I must tell you that I cannot support it.

Many of my colleagues share my concerns, and alternative measures are under discussion in both Houses of the Congress.

You may also be aware that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, of which I am a member, held a series of hearings in July and August to explore in detail the many and complex questions for United States policy posed by the current regime in Iraq.

These hearings reviewed at length the broad landscape of issues raised by the Administration’s proposed attack on Iraq, including the military, political, economic, and geo-political risks and benefits -- both short and long-term -- of United States military action.

I am encouraged that additional hearings have been scheduled by several House and Senate Committees, including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to further examine these concerns before any action is taken.

I appreciate hearing of your concerns about this complex matter, which will have serious consequences for our country, for the region, and the world for a long time to come. Please do not hesitate to contact me about any other issues of importance to you.

With best regards,

Sincerely,

Paul Sarbanes
United States Senator

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