Collins, Pingree oppose invasion of Iraq

AUGUSTA – Republican Sen. Susan Collins and her Democratic challenger, Chellie Pingree, don’t agree on much. But they do agree on one thing.

President Bush hasn’t yet made a case for invading Iraq, they say.

Collins and Pingree both agree that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein should be removed from power. But neither is sure whether an invasion of Iraq is the best way to achieve it.

“If we remove Saddam, but then have a regime that is also anti-American, anti-Western and anti-Israel, we really haven’t accomplished our goal,” Collins said. “Our goal should be making it impossible for Iraq to threaten us or other nations with weapons of mass destruction.”

Pingree said Bush hasn’t garnered support he needs for an invasion. “I think everybody agrees Saddam Hussein is not a good man,” she said. “How we go about doing that, and when, and who’s involved, are big questions.”

On Wednesday, the president took a break from military planning at his Texas ranch to speak to reporters, assuring skittish allies that he was in no hurry to oust Iraq’s Saddam Hussein. “I’m a patient man,” he said.

While on the campaign trail, Pingree said she’s heard from voters who are concerned that Bush will strike. “I think this is an operation of enormous magnitude and he needs consensus and support to do it,” Pingree said.