Don’t Let Impatience Bring War, Bush Urged

President Bush discussed the possibility of military action in the Persian Gulf with congressional leaders today and was urged not to let impatience lead to outright war with Iraq.

“There’s concern on Capitol Hill . . . that this is somehow a prelude to immediate military action,” one senator said.

Bush told the Democratic and Republican leaders that he could not guarantee he would consult them before starting hostilities.

“It’s just impossible to say what might develop,” White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater told reporters after the meeting.

Congressional leaders emerging from the meeting said they had urged the President to explore all other avenues for resolving the crisis and got no indication that U.S. military action was imminent.

“His patience is wearing thin,” said Sen. William S. Cohen (R-Me.), one of several lawmakers who met for an hour at the White House with the President. But Cohen added, “For the time being, he’s going to continue to pursue the course that we’re currently on.”

Cohen said “there was no . . . indication that we’re at the near-break point” for moving from sanctions to military action.

Asked if Bush appeared to have a military strike on the front burner, Sen. Claiborne Pell (D-R.I.) said, “It’s certainly on the burner and not ruled out.”

“There’s concern on Capitol Hill . . . that this is somehow a prelude to immediate military action,” Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) said after the meeting. “People want to make sure that options are explored.”

Participants described Bush as highly disturbed at reports of atrocities in occupied Kuwait and the plight of U.S. Embassy personnel and other Americans who have been blocked from leaving.

The lawmakers said Bush sought their opinions in what Leahy described as “one of the livelier” such sessions he has attended with the President.

“Nobody asked the President to rule out a military option,” Leahy said, “But many of us told him to make sure that we don’t use the military option out of impatience, that we try the embargo, the sanctions, the United Nations resolutions, our allies’ efforts first and foremost.”

Cohen, who has been outspoken in saying that Bush must get congressional approval before undertaking hostilities, said: “There obviously is a difference of opinion in terms of whether that power resides with the executive branch or the congressional branch. I believe the President is doing his best to say, ‘Let’s work together,’ and that’s precisely what the thrust of the meeting was.”

Asked about the potential for a U.S. military strike, Fitzwater said: “As these things unfold, of course, there are always scenarios for action that have to be considered . . . but there is no timetable for action.”