Senate Republican Urges Debate on Bush's Iraq Plans

WASHINGTON - Urging an open debate on whether the United States should use force to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Republican Sen. Arlen Specter on Thursday introduced a resolution to put Congress on record on the issue.

"There is a need for the American people to understand the issues involved in the use of military force against Iraq," said Specter, of Pennsylvania.

"Consideration by the Congress on these key issues would provide a basis for international understanding of our position and perhaps even support in some quarters," he said.

Specter joins a growing number of lawmakers -- both Republicans and Democrats -- who want Congress to have a voice in whether the United States takes military action against Iraq.

Bush has said Washington would use all the tools at its disposal to topple Saddam and has branded Iraq part of an "axis of evil" supporting terrorism and developing weapons of mass destruction. Iraq has denied the U.S. charges.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden, a Delaware Democrat, plans hearings on Iraq in September.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, recently said he was concerned that the administration might use a $10 billion contingency fund it wants to conduct its war on terrorism to invade Iraq.

Specter, in remarks on the Senate floor, said with a congressional resolution supporting use of force against Iraq, "the international community might well be reassured that the U.S. military action was not the decision of just one man, even though he is president of the United States."

Passing the resolution could present "a united front with the president backed by congressional authorization and American public opinion on an issue where most, if not virtually all, of the international community is in opposition," he said.