NH Delegation Fully Supports War in Iraq

By Priscilla Huff on Tuesday, June 29, 2004.

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In a surprise move, the Coalition Provisional Authority Monday handed over sovereignty to the Iraqi transitional government two days earlier than planned.

It was one of the few things that have gone as planned as the Bush Administration expanded the war against terrorism to Iraq last year.

Yet, despite everything that has gone wrong with the war in Iraq, New Hampshire's Congressional delegation remains supportive of the decision to go to war.

NHPR Correspondent Priscilla Huff reports from Washington.

President Bush has said it plainly.

He believes that Iraq is the central front in the war against terrorism

However, the 9-11 commission has asserted that there is no compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda were working together in any significant way.

President Bush has insisted Iraq wasbuilding and storing Weapons of Mass Destruction.

To date no major caches have been found.

Still, 2nd District Representative Charles Bass remains convinced, going to war in Iraq was the right decision.

BASS
I am. I think Saddam Hussein was a very bad player in the world. If he wasn't involved in Al Qaeda operations, if he wasn't involved in Afghanistan, if he wasn't involved in any other activities to do so, he certainly had the potential to do so.

1st District Representative Jeb Bradley is also certain invading Iraq was the proper action to take.

He points to the mass graves and the torture chambers used by the Sadaam Hussein regime.

But even though the US has also been roundly condemned for engaging in torture at the Abu Ghraib prison, Bradley remains steadfast.

BRADLEY
"I visited that prison when I was in Iraq in November and I saw the the execution chambers and the torture chambers where the 80,000 Iraqis were executed so this prison has a very horrific unfortunately, a very horrific history, in particular, the barbaric treatment of Iraqi citizens by Saddam Hussein."

TRACK
And the fact that the US unexpectedly handed over the reigns of power on Monday has not meant an end to the violence in Iraq.

Nightfall brought four major explosions in Central Baghdad, near the US held Green Zone.

And militants announced the execution of an American soldier.

Since the beginning of the war, nearly 900 US soldiers have died.

More than 700 of them have been killed since President Bush announced the end of combat operations last year.

The insurgents have vowed to continue fighting, until they establish Islamic rule in Iraq.

And despite having handed over governing authority, the US forces expect to be in Iraq for the foreseeable future.

But Senator John Sununu says the US has a job to do.

SUNUNU
"I think everyone is concerned about what is happening in Iraq, concerned that we succeed in establishing a government that properly represents the Iraqi people, a government that doesn't threaten its neighbors, a government in Iraq that is no longer committed to developing weapons of mass destruction.

TRACK

The cost of the war keeps going up.

Congress allocated some 85 billion for rebuilding efforts.

Later, the Bush administration asked for $25 billion for the military, and he's expect to ask for another 25 billion this fall.

For Senator Judd Gregg, the war must be paid for.

GREGG
I think its appropriate to bring up a request if they think they need it. We've got to give our military what they need to pursue their objectives in Iraq. Whatever they need, we're going to have to vote for.

For the NH delegation, the theme is "stay the course."

For NHPR News, I'm Priscilla Huff in Washington.