US: Bush is not Hitler; asks Congress for use of force on Iraq

US President Bush asked the U.S. Congress for authority to use all means necessary, including the use of the U.S. armed forces, to depose the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein and to disarm Iraq.

Bush said yesterday after sending the proposed resolution to the Congress that "If you want to keep the peace, you've got to have the authorization to use force." The resolution was sent to Congress after meetings September 18 with the Congressional leadership at the White House. Bush is seeking action on the resolution before a Congressional recess for the general elections November 5.

The resolution reads, in part: "The President is authorized to use all means that he determines to be appropriate, including force, in order to enforce the United Nations Security Council resolutions referenced above, defend the national security interests of the United States against the threat posed by Iraq, and restore international peace and security in the region."

Meantime, asked if "U.S.-German relations being threatened by the tone of the Iraq debate in the political campaign there? That's including the Justice Minister's equating President Bush's tactics with Hitler, and Chancellor Schroeder's ruling out German involvement in any Iraq war," the White House called the remarks yesterday "outrageous and is inexplicable."