Gibbons: Bombing Iraq could be ‘foolhardy’

Larry Henry

Thursday, Feb. 12, 1998 | 3:08 a.m.

As a member of the Air Force National Guard, Rep. Jim Gibbons flew reconnaissance missions during the 1991 Persian Gulf war. But he says the current threat to bomb Iraq could be "foolhardy" because President Clinton has not lined up complete international support.

"I'm concerned about our foreign policy," Gibbons, R-Nev., said. "This on-again, off-again hesitancy (toward Saddam Hussein) on our part is diminishing world and global support."

Gibbons said Clinton hasn't clearly articulated what the mission is, and as a result, the rest of the world is less convinced than in the early 1990s that military action is the appropriate response.

"In 1990, Bush had Russia and the Arab and European nations aligned," Gibbons said. "Hussein can challenge a weak foreign policy. I see him waiting until the last minute and saying, 'If you'll lighten up the economic sanctions, you can inspect our weapons.' "

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, who, like Clinton, is a Democrat, said the U.S. has an obligation to respond.

"The American public does not like anyone thumbing their nose at the U.S.," Reid said.

Reid disagreed with Gibbons' statement that the mission is unclear.

"Secretary Cohn is interested in getting rid of Saddam Hussein," Reid said. "He just doesn't want to build up expectations."

Gibbons said even the goal of killing Hussein could cause problems because the U.S. isn't prepared for a leadership vacuum in Iraq.

"Who do you replace him with, and what kind of regime are you going to have?" Gibbons asked. "Syria or Iran will take over the country if we're not prepared."

Gibbons is still an officer in the Air Guard, but he is exempt from service in Iraq because he's a member of Congress. However, he has indicated that he would volunteer.

Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev., said the mission should be to knock out Iraq's arms cache.

"We have to make sure our objective is to put the weapons of mass destruction out of Saddam Hussein's hands," Ensign said.

The fourth member of Nevada's congressional delegation, Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., was unavailable for comment.