Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin said he will oppose the measure President Bush sent to Congress last week asking for the authority to use "all means he determines to be appropriate, including force" to disarm and overthrow Saddam Hussein.

"I don't want the U.S. to go it alone," said Durbin, 57, of Springfield. "There's strength of numbers, clarity of purpose and sharing of the burden (with allied nations)."

Republican challenger Jim Durkin said he would vote immediately to give Bush the power to invade Iraq.

"I think history has shown Saddam Hussein cannot be trusted," said Durkin, a 41-year-old state lawmaker from Westchester. "I think (Hussein) would be the first one to push the button. This is a man who has no respect for human life."

The split on Iraq is one of several ways the two candidates in the Nov. 5 election differ on foreign policy, an area in which the Senate traditionally plays an important role. They also disagree on the country's role in brokering Middle East peace, the nation's Cuban embargo and free trade power for the president.

The situation with Iraq, however, looms as the dominant issue.

Durbin opposes Bush's suggested resolution and argues no military action should be taken if the United Nations successfully sends in weapons inspectors with unlimited access to search for evidence that Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.

Durbin also said he doesn't think the U.S. should proceed with an invasion without U.N. support. Durbin indicated he could back a U.S.-led invasion, if all other options fail, with U.N. support.

The stance keeps Durbin consistent with his vote more than a decade ago against giving then-President George H.ŒW. Bush power to invade Iraq.

Durbin also said he expects Congress to vote on an Iraq resolution before recess, probably within two weeks.

Republican Durkin, on the other hand, said he supports an Iraq invasion even without U.N. support, arguing the United Nations has not been able to enforce the use of weapons inspectors in the past. Durkin also said Hussein could change the rules in the middle of the inspections.

On the matter of brokering peace between Israel and Palestine, Durbin said the Bush administration was wrong to take a hands-off approach when it first took office. "Violence and terror" result if the U.S. isn't closely involved in the peace process, he said.

Durkin said the nation should play the same role it has been playing - mediator - but pointed out the "headlines haven't changed in 20 years." Durkin said he opposes sending U.S. troops to Israel, because that would be an escalation of involvement.

But both Durbin and Durkin agree on the fundamentals: There should be a free and democratic Palestinian state arrived at through negotiations with Israel.

The two candidates don't agree on the fundamentals of the U.S. embargo on Cuba, however.

Durbin favors lifting the embargo and is pushing legislation to end the restriction on food and medicine sales to the island.

"I think lifting the embargo to trade and travel is really going to spell the end of (Fidel) Castro," Durbin said.

Durkin is opposed to lifting the Cuban embargo.

"Cuba is a dictatorship in which land rights are still controlled by the government," Durkin said. "The only ones who would benefit are upper-echelon government types and Castro himself."

The two also are on the opposite ends of another free trade agreement, the recently approved fast-track trade authority for Bush. The measure allows the president to negotiate trade treaties with other countries without going back to the Senate to approve every change during trade talks.

Durkin said he would have voted in favor of the legislation to open up new markets for Illinois corn, soybeans and manufactured goods. Durkin accused Durbin of voting against it as a payback to organized labor, which was angered that Durbin voted in favor of the North American Free Trade Agreement while he was a congressman.

Durbin denied the vote was designed to appease labor and said he voted against the measure because the White House wouldn't agree to stricter worker rights and environmental provisions.

There is one foreign policy issue on which both Durbin and Durkin agree: They warn that citizens should brace for the long haul both in Afghanistan and the war on terrorism.

Publication: The Daily Harold
Date: September 25, 2002
Author: Eric Krol

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