Hussein Ouster Is Backed

Key congressional leaders expressed support Sunday for President Bush’s bid to oust Saddam Hussein, backing an administration plan that gives the CIA authority to remove the Iraqi leader from power.

Breaking ranks with foreign leaders who have voiced strong opposition to toppling Hussein by force, both Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill said Hussein’s violations of international law and alleged backing of terrorism would justify action by the United States.

“I think it is an appropriate action to take,” House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”

Gephardt, who said he had been briefed by intelligence officials about the Bush administration’s plans, noted that Hussein “continues to prepare weapons of mass destruction.”

“There is broad support for a regime change in Iraq,” Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) said on “Fox News Sunday.” “We want to work with the administration and try to find the best way and the best time to do this.”

Details of the plan were contained in a Washington Post story Sunday that said Bush authorized the CIA last winter to expand its intelligence efforts within Iraq and to provide money, weapons and training to Iraqi opposition forces. The newspaper also said Bush’s plan approved the “possible use” of CIA and U.S. Special Forces teams to capture Hussein, or even kill him in self-defense.

Polls have shown Americans split on deposing Hussein if doing so means significant military action. But Bush has declared Iraq part of an “axis of evil,” along with North Korea and Iran, because of its support of terrorism and its efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction

Experts have said that as many as 200,000 U.S. ground troops might be required to topple Hussein. In the face of strong international opposition, the administration has put off plans for possible military action until at least next year, officials have said.

But congressional leaders said they expected action before too long.

“If Saddam Hussein’s around five years from now, we’ve failed,” Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Several Republican leaders also offered support for Bush’s plan.

“We understand that Saddam Hussein harbors, fosters [and] financially supports terrorism,” House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) said on “This Week.” “So if, in fact, we have an opportunity to make the world safer ... interdiction against this kind of a sponsorship of terrorists, I’m sure, is a wise and prudent thing to do.”

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who has taken issue with Bush on many occasions, expressed qualified support for a regime change in Iraq. He said he favored the idea if it could be done “on the cheap”--without a massive troop deployment.