Bryan: Iraq strike needed

Larry Henry

Thursday, Feb. 19, 1998 | 10:01 a.m.

Sen. Richard Bryan says an inevitable airstrike against Iraq probably will lead to American casualties and won't kill Saddam Hussein but is necessary to protect United States oil interests.

"I think we should hit and hit hard," Bryan, D-Nev., said during a meeting Wednesday with the Las Vegas SUN editorial board. "Anything that destabilizes the region has an impact on us."

Bryan said a Middle Eastern oil embargo during the 1970s, coupled with political instability in the area then and in later years, drove gas prices up from 33 cents per gallon more than 20 years ago.

"Our economy is very dependent upon oil," Bryan said.

Bryan said the U.S. would lose face -- and Hussein would gain in popularity -- if President Clinton doesn't carry through on a threat to use force.

Clinton has threatened to bomb Iraq if Hussein doesn't permit U.N. weapons inspectors access to all sites.

"I think it's a matter of credibility," Bryan said. "If we do nothing, we encourage more adventurism on his part."

Bryan, one of six Democratic senators to support the 1991 Persian Gulf War, said the targets this time should include communications networks and military supply depots and staging areas.

"I believe a strike is going to occur," he said.

He downplayed concerns that the U.S. lacks the backing of other major nations, especially in the Arab world.

"Every Arab leader fears Saddam Hussein," Bryan said. "Privately, with a wink and a nod, they raise no objections to us taking action."

Bryan said Hussein owns 48 palaces and probably couldn't be located during an air attack.

"I don't know a single responsible source who says you could take him out by air," he said.

However, Bryan said a strike likely would take a toll on American forces.

"We're going to take casualties," he said.