McCain, Kolbe say U.S. can't be deterred by Iraq blast

[thedrifter]

McCain, Kolbe say U.S. can't be deterred by Iraq blast

Associated Press
Aug. 19, 2003 05:55 PM


WASHINGTON - Sen. John McCain said more troops and more money will be needed to ensure stability in Iraq after a major bombing at the United Nations compound killed 20 people Tuesday.

McCain and Rep. Jim Kolbe, both Republicans from Arizona, were on a congressional visit to Iraq and meeting with L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator in Iraq, and Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, when the bomb tore open the U.N. building about five miles away.

The seven-member congressional envoy was not in danger and was apparently not a target of the attack although there had been a tentative meeting scheduled with the U.N.'s top official in the country, Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was killed in the blast.

"The United States will not allow this terrible tragedy, this act of terror, to change our unshakable commitment to bringing peace and democracy to Iraq," McCain said in a conference call from Kuwait hours after the bombing. "We will not be driven off by acts of terror."

Kolbe agreed, saying that, even though the attack was a blow to efforts to put "an international face" on reconstruction efforts to Iraq, it would not deter the U.S. efforts there.

The explosives were packed in a cement truck that was detonated outside Vieira de Mello's office. He and 19 others were killed and at least 100 people were wounded. The explosion left a 6-foot-deep crater in the ground and devastated the exterior of the hotel housing the U.N. offices.

Members of the delegation had a tentative meeting scheduled Tuesday with Vieira de Mello, but it was canceled after plane trouble in Jordan delayed their arrival by two hours.

McCain and Kolbe said that parties from Syria and Iran have been entering the country and mounting attacks, disrupting the peace.

McCain said more soldiers and more money may be needed to keep the peace.

"The composition of the force probably has to change and I believe the numbers of people are going to have to be enlarged," he said. "I also believe we're going to have to spend a lot more money and we're going to have to increase the size of our military."

However, Kolbe said Sanchez said they have enough troops to do the job.

"More military forces are not what is needed there," Kolbe said. "General Sanchez was fairly adamant about that."

The congressional group, which had been helicoptered into the U.S. headquarters at one of Saddam Hussein's former presidential palaces, was also airlifted out at the end of the day. They were not taken past the bombed building because of concern that the helicopter might be shot at by hostile Iraqis, Kolbe said.

The congressional delegation's schedule was not changed because of the blast and they are planning to spend the next two days in the country. One event was canceled because of security concerns, Kolbe said.

McCain said the members of Congress are very well protected and there are no safety concerns.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said America should not be deterred by the bombing.

"They're measuring us, they're watching us," he said. "Do we have the resolve to take casualties and spend money? The answer is yes. We'll do what it takes to win this war."

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...Cain19-ON.html


Sempers,

Roger