I just got some pennies from heaven, thanks to a stop at the library.
My Lexus-Nexusifaction leads me to check into stuff from the past.
One was Iraq and their chemical weapons.
I found that Congress took some action in 1988. This is where the journey begins.
(the thrilling climax.. inside, or under the "station identifaction")
Anyways, what the house did was vote for Sanctions, a bill titled HR 5337.
The total vote, held on September 27th, 1988:
388 votes for sanctions on Iraq
16 votes against
I thought "Who would vote against this?"
Since our Government or Thomas.loc.gov hasn't put all the roll call votes online (which would rule).. it was off to the library.
And then I went though the CQ Almanac for 1988.
388-16
8 Democrats against, 8 Republicans against (Oh well)
going down the states
people against these sanctions
Bob Stump (R-AZ)
Jim Jontz (D-IN)
David Nagle (D-IA)
Fred Grandy (R-IA)
Tim Penny (D-MN)
Bill Frenzel (R-MN)
Pat Williams (D-MT)
H. Martin Lancaster (D-NC)
Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
Glenn English (D-OK)
Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Lamar S. Smith (R-TX)
Tom DeLay (R-TX)
Howard Nielson (R-UT)
Toby Roth (R-WI)
James Sensenbrenner (R-WI)
A ha..
Now.. to give DeLay the benefit of the doubt. We don't know why he refused to punish Saddam Hussein in 1988.
We don't know if Tom disliked Sanctions for being unilateral (Ha ha) or disliked sanctions in general or what.
We do know that when the world was hearing of Saddam Hussein's genocide against the Kurds. 388 Congressmen wanted to punish Saddam and Tom DeLay didn't.
We do know that after Jesse Helms stalled this whole idea in 1988. It came up again in 1989 and passed on a voice vote.
As far as we know, Rep. DeLay doesn't have a recorded vote against the Hussein regime until the invasion of Kuwait.
Trent Lott, Dick Cheney, Denny Hastert, Dick Armey, Newt Gingrich, Bob Dornan and others all supported HR 5337.
Tom DeLay did not.
Here's a summary of the bill that Representative DeLay voted against:
Sanctions Against Iraqi Chemical Weapons Use Act - Sets forth congressional findings concerning Iraq's use of chemical weapons and the treatment of the Kurdish people in Iraq.
Prohibits: (1) the sale to Iraq of any item on the U.S. Munitions List, (2) the issuance of any license for the export to Iraq of any item on the U.S. Munitions List; (3) the export to Iraq of any goods or technology on the Export Administration Act control list; and (4) the issuance of licenses for the export to Iraq of any chemical that the President determines may be used primarily in the production of chemical weapons or devoted to chemical warfare purposes. Applies contract sanctity for contracts signed before September 15, 1988.
Requires the President to impose additional sanctions against Iraq, unless he certifies to the Congress that: (1) Iraq is not using chemical weapons in violation of international law; (2) Iraq has provided reliable assurances that it will not use chemical weapons in the future; and (3) Iraq is willing to allow on-site inspections by the United Nations or other impartial observers, or other reliable means exist to ensure that Iraq is not using chemical weapons.
Authorizes the following additional sanctions: (1) prohibiting or restricting the importation of oil, petroleum products, or other goods from Iraq; (2) prohibiting or restricting the export to Iraq of agricultural commodities and other goods and technology under authority of the Export Administration Act; (3) denying Government credits, guarantees of credits, and other assistance to Iraq; (4) opposing any loan or financial or technical assistance to Iraq by international financial institutions; or (5) downgrading or suspending diplomatic relations with Iraq. Provides that in imposing any additional sanctions the President may not prohibit or curtail the execution of any contract or agreement entered into before the earlier of the date on which the notice of intent to impose the additional sanction is printed in the Federal Register or the date on which the President notifies the Congress of such intent. Requires the President to report to the Congress periodically on any such actions taken.
Allows the President to lift any sanctions imposed pursuant to this Act if the President determines and certifies to the Congress that Iraq: (1) is not using chemical weapons; (2) has provided reliable assurances that it will not use chemical weapons in the future; and (3) is willing to allow on-site inspections by the United Nations or other impartial observers, or other means exist to ensure that Iraq is not using chemical weapons.
Urges Turkey to cooperate with any United Nations or other appropriate investigation of Iraqi use of chemical weapons. Commends Turkey for its humanitarian decision to accept Kurdish refugees.
Calls upon the President to: (1) bring before the United Nations the matter of Iraq's use of poison gas against its own nationals; and (2) demand that appropriate and effective measures be taken against Iraq for its repeated use of chemical weapons.
Calls upon the President to seek multinational cooperation in: (1) imposing sanctions and otherwise bringing pressure on Iraq in order to obtain a cessation of Iraq's use of chemical weapons; and (2) obtaining Iraqi respect for the internationally recognized human rights of the Kurdish minority in Iraq.
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should cooperate with and participate in multilateral efforts to assist Kurdish refugees who are in need of medical treatment and other humanitarian aid.
States that it is the policy of the United States to prohibit the export of goods and technology to Iraq that would significantly contribute to its military potential. Urges the President to review any proposed export to Iraq of goods or technology valued at over $50,000,000.
Terminates the provisions of, and the sanctions imposed under, this Act as of June 30, 1991.
This was sponsored by Representative Dante Fascell (D-FL) and cosponsored by the following representatives:
Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-7] - 9/22/1988
Rep Atkins, Chester G. [MA-5] - 9/22/1988
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-26] - 9/22/1988
Rep Bilbray, James H. [NV-1] - 9/22/1988
Rep Blaz, Ben G. [GU] - 9/22/1988
Rep Broomfield, William S. [MI-18] - 9/22/1988
Rep Clarke, James McC. [NC-11] - 9/22/1988
Rep Dornan, Robert K. [CA-38] - 9/22/1988
Rep Feighan, Edward F. [OH-19] - 9/22/1988
Rep Fuster, Jamie B. [PR] - 9/22/1988
Rep Gilman, Benjamin A. [NY-22] - 9/22/1988
Rep Hamilton, Lee H. [IN-9] - 9/22/1988
Rep Hyde, Henry J. [IL-6] - 9/22/1988
Rep Kostmayer, Peter H. [PA-8] - 9/22/1988
Rep Lagomarsino, Robert J. [CA-19] - 9/22/1988
Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-11] - 9/22/1988
Rep Leach, James A. [IA-1] - 9/22/1988
Rep Levine, Mel [CA-27] - 9/22/1988
Rep Mack, Connie [FL-13] - 9/22/1988
Rep Mica, Daniel Andrew [FL-14] - 9/22/1988
Rep Miller, John R. [WA-1] - 9/22/1988
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 9/22/1988
Rep Smith, Lawrence [FL-16] - 9/22/1988
Rep Snowe, Olympia J. [ME-2] - 9/22/1988
Rep Solarz, Stephen J. [NY-13] - 9/22/1988
Rep Solomon, Gerald B. H. [NY-24] - 9/22/1988
Rep Studds, Gerry E. [MA-10] - 9/22/1988
Rep Torricelli, Robert G. [NJ-9] - 9/22/1988
Rep Weiss, Ted [NY-17] - 9/22/1988
Rep Wolpe, Howard E. [MI-3] - 9/22/1988
Rep Yatron, Gus [PA-6] - 9/22/1988
I guess if you use the Bush logic of "If you voted against it, you're for it" (such as with the Partial Birth Abortion stuff) then you gotta say this about Tom DeLay:
He was for the genocide of Kurds back in the 1980s.
(But, i'm sure Terminator Tom has a good reason to not punish Saddam Hussein. Yep. One so good, 388 representatives ignored it. Another way to see this: One person stands between a "Saddam appeaser" and the Speaker's chair)
I really do wish that the pre-1990 Roll Call records were online. And if anybody can find any comments from DeLay on the floor for this bill. Post them ASAP. We gotta see what he was thinking.
Either way.. how many Kurds and Iraqis had to die before Tom DeLay would have supported sanctions on Saddam Hussein?
--
I was just about to post this.. but I found some more DeLay/Iraq stuff
Here's an amendment DeLay was speaking against
H.AMDT.622 (A022)
Amends: H.R.3950 , H.AMDT.613
Sponsor: Rep Glickman, Dan [KS-4] (offered 7/27/1990)
AMENDMENT DESCRIPTION:
See Gejdenson amendment (A019) for description.
H.AMDT.613 (A019)
Amends: H.R.3950
Amendments to this amendment: H.AMDT.614 , H.AMDT.615 , H.AMDT.622 , H.AMDT.623 , H.AMDT.624 , H.AMDT.625
Sponsor: Rep Gejdenson, Sam [CT-2] (offered 7/25/1990)
AMENDMENT DESCRIPTION:
Amendment inserted a new Title XII in the bill which provided the Department of Agriculture with primary responsibility for administering the concessional sales program under title I of the P.L. 480 (Food for Peace) program; provided the Agency for International Development with primary responsibility for administering direct feeding programs under title II; and established a new title III, the Food for Development Government-to-Government Grant Assistance Program. \ As amended by the Durbin amendment (A020), language was added which provided that export subsidy programs for tobacco could not be used for processed tobacco or in contravention of the health policy of importing nations. \ As amended by the Bereuter amendment (A021), the President was authorized to enter into debt reduction agreements with eligible Latin American and Caribbean basin countries. \ As amended by the Glickman amendment (A022), language was added which denied export credit guarantees to countries shown to violate human rights, that were acquiring chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons; and that supported international terrorism. \ As amended by the Schumer amendment (A023), the Commodity Credit Corporation was required to establish criteria to evaluate loans eligibl. for guarantees to ensure that the CCC does not assume undue risk in providing such guarantees. \ As amended by the Bereuter amendment (A025), the Secretary of Agriculture was authorized to waive certain restrictions on credit guarantees if the restrictions resulted in the decreased export of agricultural products from the U.S. or would harm U.S. farmers more than the country on which the restrictions were imposed.
AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
An amendment to insert a new Title XII which modifies the bill's provisions regarding international food aid and export promotion programs.
AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
An amendment to prohibit credit guarantees or any other commercial exports to any country which, as a result of review by the Commodity Credit Corporation, is determined to have demostrated a lack of respect for human rights; is acquiring chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons and has not foreworn the first use of such weapons or demonstrated a lack of commitment to abide by the Geneva Protocol prohibiting the use of such weapons; or provides support for international terrorism.
and the speech, from July 27, 1990.. just SIX days before Saddam invaded Kuwait:
Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment. The funds which we are currently considering terminating are extremely important to the U.S. rice industry as it attempts to maintain its share of the overall world market for rice.
U.S. rice producers have struggled economically for the last several years and, this year, prices have not shown any appreciable improvements even though our carryover stocks are the lowest in many years. The driving force behind the U.S. rice price is our export market. As Members of the House know, many of agricultures' major foreign customers are countries that must borrow money to purchase their food supply.
Iraq has been one of the biggest customers for United States produced rice. While we recognize that there are some problems with Iraqi policy, it is incumbent on me to inform the Members of this body that this action is devastating to the U.S. rice market and ultimately the U.S. rice farmer.
It would be somewhat inconsistent for us to suggest that world market share should be the avenue of survival for U.S. producers and put in place the restraint on moneys which this amendment would cause. This Member from Texas has one of the largest rice producing districts in the Nation. It would be unconscionable for me to support this amendment which would have so detrimental an effect on the rice industry. At the very minimum, producers should be given the opportunity of a study in this area. I urge a `no' vote on this amendment to H.R. 3950.
Holy fuck.. rice is more important than menial things.. like Iraqis and Kurds dying.
I guess it's so vital that we had to export rice to Iraq and other countries which had WMDs.
If you want to go with the hyperbole.. DeLay was in favor for "Rice for Saddam"