Andreasen questions Bush's approach on Iraq

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

ST. PETER -- First district congressional candidate Steve Andreasen accused the Bush administration of switching from a policy of pre-emptive strike to that of prevention in attempting to end the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

"The difference is that if you were starting toward this podium to hurt me, I would be within my rights to make a pre-emptive strike to stop you," Andreasen, who was director of defense policy and arms control in the Clinton administration, explained.

"However, if I have only vague indications that you're about to storm the podium and I attack you, that's an act of prevention."

Andreasen spoke Thursday at a session for college Democrats on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College. Andreasen, a Democrat, is running for the First District House seat now held by Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht.

With President Bush considering a military strike against Iraq even though Hussein says he will let United Nations weapons inspectors return, Andreasen said, "What you have here is a policy of prevention, not pre-emption. Historically, we've not adopted prevention as a policy. The result is you'll have other countries adopting this policy, as well."

Andreasen believes a military effort to depose Hussein would not only be costly in terms of dollars but in support from other nations, as well.

"The one thing other countries will support is disarmament of Iraq, but there's not a lot of support for a regime-change in the UN."

The Gulf War cost the nation about $60-$70 billion, Andreasen estimated, "and a conservative figure being mentioned by some is $100-$200 billion. And we might be in Iraq five years, 10 years or even 20 years."

He said the administration should get a "tough" resolution through the UN supporting weapons inspection with "serious consequences" if Hussein doesn't allow the inspectors full access to all possible sites.

Andreasen tempered his criticism of the Bush administration, saying, "I applaud the president for taking this issue to the United Nations and the Security Council, (and) I applaud the president for his decision to seek the support of Congress for his policy on Iraq, including the possible use of force."

But, he said it's now time for Congress to ask tough questions, including "Have we exhausted all possibilities for disarming Iraq?" and "Can we achieve effective disarmament without changing the Iraqi regime? What are the military options, for both disarming Iraq, and for changing the Iraqi regime? Are there effective options, including diplomatic pressure, sanctions and covert action, short of invading and occupying Iraq?"

Andreasen said his opponent has only voiced his support of Bush's plan, "but he isn't asking any questions like he should."

Andreasen also said he wants a number of debates with Gutknecht, but the congressman has agreed to only one, on Oct. 17, in Rochester.