“On Dec. 5 [2001], Congressional leaders sought to frame the justification for attacking Hussein in a letter to the president [Bush]. ‘For as long as Saddam Hussein is in power in Baghdad [Iraq], he will seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them,’ said the letter, signed by Senators Trent Lott [R-MS], Joseph I. Lieberman [D-CT] and John McCain [R-AZ], among others. ‘We have no doubt that these deadly weapons are intended for use against the United States and its allies. Consequently, we believe we must directly confront Saddam, sooner rather than later.’ ”
– Patrick E. Tyler, “U.S. Again Placing Focus on Hussein,” The New York Times, Dec. 18, 2001