Area Congressmen Support Attack On Iraq
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
As bombs fell around Baghdad in an effort to move along a stalled weapons inspection regime in Iraq, they also stalled the impeachment debate on the U.S. commander-in-chief.
The military action may or may not prod Saddam Hussein into complying with U.N. resolutions on weapons inspections, but the action gained the support of northeast Indiana's congressional representatives, even if it is a qualified support.
Congressman Steven Buyer (R-5th Dist.) supports the military action against Iraq and sees no connection between the timing of the operation and the impeachment vote, according to Mike Copher, spokesman for Buyer's office.
"The congressman thinks the action being taken against Iraq is more than justified and that our troops need the support of the American people," Copher said.
As of this morning, Congressman Tim Roemer's office had not issued a statement on the events in Iraq, according to Roemer's spokesman John St. Croix.
Senators Richard Lugar and Dan Coats also expressed support for the bombing of the Iraqi military site, but Coats questioned the credibility of the president's decision in this country and abroad.
"While a policy to force Iraq to comply with inspections is justified, the timing of the action, just 16 hours before the House of Representatives begins impeachment proceedings, will be challenged by allies and adversaries alike," Coats said.
Lugar said Wednesday the timing of the air strikes was necessary to maintain the credibility of the United States and the United Nations.
"Tonight was exactly the right time for the United States and Great Britain to commence military action. When Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen outlined to me yesterday afternoon the plans presented to the president early this morning, I encouraged Secretary Cohen to strongly encourage President Clinton to give an immediate go-ahead," Lugar said
The fast-moving events in the Middle East quickly overshadowed the domestic political clash that was looming for the House this morning.
Both Buyer's and Roemer's offices have been inundated with calls concerning the impeachment debate, according to spokesmen from both offices.
"We don't have a firm count (on the number of phone calls received), but it's a pretty heavy volume," Copher said. "The volume of calls wasn't as heavy as it was before the vote on NAFTA or the partial birth abortion ban."
Copher said approximately half of the calls were coming in from outside the district and were 65 to 70 percent in favor of impeachment.
St. Croix said Roemer's office was also receiving a heavy volume of calls, with many from outside the district, and the callers were roughly evenly split in favor of and against impeachment. [[In-content Ad]]
As bombs fell around Baghdad in an effort to move along a stalled weapons inspection regime in Iraq, they also stalled the impeachment debate on the U.S. commander-in-chief.
The military action may or may not prod Saddam Hussein into complying with U.N. resolutions on weapons inspections, but the action gained the support of northeast Indiana's congressional representatives, even if it is a qualified support.
Congressman Steven Buyer (R-5th Dist.) supports the military action against Iraq and sees no connection between the timing of the operation and the impeachment vote, according to Mike Copher, spokesman for Buyer's office.
"The congressman thinks the action being taken against Iraq is more than justified and that our troops need the support of the American people," Copher said.
As of this morning, Congressman Tim Roemer's office had not issued a statement on the events in Iraq, according to Roemer's spokesman John St. Croix.
Senators Richard Lugar and Dan Coats also expressed support for the bombing of the Iraqi military site, but Coats questioned the credibility of the president's decision in this country and abroad.
"While a policy to force Iraq to comply with inspections is justified, the timing of the action, just 16 hours before the House of Representatives begins impeachment proceedings, will be challenged by allies and adversaries alike," Coats said.
Lugar said Wednesday the timing of the air strikes was necessary to maintain the credibility of the United States and the United Nations.
"Tonight was exactly the right time for the United States and Great Britain to commence military action. When Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen outlined to me yesterday afternoon the plans presented to the president early this morning, I encouraged Secretary Cohen to strongly encourage President Clinton to give an immediate go-ahead," Lugar said
The fast-moving events in the Middle East quickly overshadowed the domestic political clash that was looming for the House this morning.
Both Buyer's and Roemer's offices have been inundated with calls concerning the impeachment debate, according to spokesmen from both offices.
"We don't have a firm count (on the number of phone calls received), but it's a pretty heavy volume," Copher said. "The volume of calls wasn't as heavy as it was before the vote on NAFTA or the partial birth abortion ban."
Copher said approximately half of the calls were coming in from outside the district and were 65 to 70 percent in favor of impeachment.
St. Croix said Roemer's office was also receiving a heavy volume of calls, with many from outside the district, and the callers were roughly evenly split in favor of and against impeachment. [[In-content Ad]]