Congress Affirms Support, Eyes Long Term

The Congress that gave President Bush authority to wage war in the Persian Gulf immediately lined up today behind his decision to exercise that power, as lawmakers voiced hopes for a quick, decisive victory.

“The United States will prevail,” said Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell (D-Me.) after a White House meeting with the President.

“We hope that the outcome is swift and with the minimum of damage and loss of life, and we will join in full support of the men and women of our armed forces who are displaying such courage and skill,” said Mitchell, who had opposed giving Bush the authority to go to war.

But there were also warnings about the difficult road ahead, including the dangers of political instability in the Middle East in the aftermath of the conflict.

“I wouldn’t get euphoric now,” said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah). “It’s going to be a long, hard time.”

“So far it’s been highly successful,” said Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.). “But I’m convinced the heavy fighting is ahead of us with those thousands of Iraqi troops dug in.”

“Now it is time for all of us to stand together in support for the U.S. and in support of our soldiers in the gulf,” said Rep. Lee H. Hamilton (D-Ind.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East. Hamilton also had opposed congressional authorization for Bush to wage war.

“I believe that we will prevail in a matter of days or weeks,” said Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who cited the “overwhelming” U.S. advantage in weaponry. “Saddam Hussein has made a tragic miscalculation,” he said.

Nunn and others already were contemplating the aftermath of the conflict, saying it was important to consider long-term effects of the way the war is conducted.

“The sooner this is concluded the less penalty . . . we’ll pay in terms of Islamic fundamentalism, terrorism and that kind of thing,” Nunn said.

And Sen. Al Gore (D-Tenn.) said the United States must work to make any force occupying Kuwait after Iraq is chased out an all-Arab force. He also said consideration must be given to how to nurture a new, more benign government in Iraq and how to prevent a power vacuum in Baghdad that could tempt Syria or Iran to take advantage.

“We must now turn our attention, even as the fighting continues, to the aftermath,” said Gore, one of 10 Senate Democrats who voted for the war resolution.