RELIABLE.
NONPARTISAN.
EMPOWERING.

  • HOME
  • US - IRAQ WAR - MENU
    • US - IRAQ WAR - HOME
    • GET STARTED
      • Top Pro & Con Quotes Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments Historical Timeline, 1990 - 2011
    • ISSUES AND CANDIDATE STATEMENTS
      • CORE QUESTION Justifications for Invading Iraq Saddam Hussein Weapons in Iraq US - Iraq Relations Iraq's Oil Iraqi Sectarianism Safety and Security Insurgency and Terrorism Prisoners of War Cost of the War The United Nations (UN) US Troop Reduction or Withdrawal
    • RECOMMENDED
      • Did You Know? Readers' Comments Historical Timeline, Pre-History - 1989 Deaths from the War in Iraq Costs of the Iraq War Opinion Polls/Surveys Key Documents Facts About Iraq Maps of Iraq, the Middle East, and the Arab League Coalition Forces in Iraq 26 Countries' WMD Programs; A Global History of WMD Use United Nations Reference United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Iraq US-Iraq Relations by US President, 1981-Mar. 19, 2003 Bush Administration Quotes on Iraq
    • DIG DEEPER
      • Source Biographies Site Map Notices Archive Glossary Arab League Reference Ethnic and Religious Groups In Iraq Downing Street Memo Iraq Statements by Former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice Iraq Statements by Former US Department of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Iraq Statements by Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell Iraq Statements by US President George W. Bush Iraq Statements by US Vice President Cheney New Iraqi Flag Approved by Iraqi Lawmakers President Bush Announces Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended Remarks to the United Nations Security Council from US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. Saddam Hussein Executed on December 30, 2006 43rd US President Speaks to the United Nations General Assembly Oct. 2002 Congressional Votes Authorizing the President
        to Use Military Force Against Iraq
        Massive Reconstruction Waste in Iraq Says Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction 2012 Presidential Candidates' Positions on US-Iraq War
  • ISSUES WE COVER
    • MOST POPULAR
      • 2020 Presidential Election
      • Medical Marijuana
      • Gun Control
      • Homework
      • Animal Testing
      • Death Penalty
      • School Uniforms
      • Drinking Age - Lower It?
      • Abortion
      • Zoos
      • Illegal Immigration
    • HEALTH & MEDICINE
      • Medical Marijuana
      • Euthanasia & Assisted Suicide
      • Vaping E-Cigarettes
      • Vaccines for Kids
      • Milk - Is It Healthy?
      • OTC Birth Control
      • Abortion
      • Vegetarianism
      • Obesity a Disease?
      • Obamacare
      • Right to Health Care
      • Prescription Drug Ads
      • Marijuana for Pets
    • EDUCATION
      • School Uniforms
      • Standardized Tests
      • Tablets vs. Textbooks
      • College Education Worth It?
      • Teacher Tenure
      • Student Loan Debt
      • School Vouchers
      • Corporal Punishment
      • Banned Books
      • Homework
      • Free College
      • D.A.R.E (archived 6/3/13)
    • POLITICS
      • Death Penalty
      • Drinking Age - Lower It?
      • Illegal Immigration
      • Gun Control
      • Recreational Marijuana
      • Mandatory National Service
      • ACLU - Good for America?
      • Concealed Handguns
      • Sanctuary Cities
      • Under God in the Pledge
      • DACA & Dreamers
      • Dacota Pipeline
      • WTC Muslim Center (archived 6/3/13)
    • SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
      • Animal Testing
      • Cell Phones Radiation
      • Alternative Energy vs. Fossil Fuels
      • Climate Change
      • Net Nautrality
      • Police Body Cameras
      • Bottled Water Ban
      • Zoos
      • GMOs
    • ELECTIONS & PRESIDENTS
      • 2020 Presidential Election
      • Felon Voting
      • Election Day National Holiday
      • Electoral College
      • Lowering the Voting Age to 16
      • Voting Machines
      • Ronald Reagan
      • Bill Clinton
      • 2008 Presidential Election (archived 1/19/09)
      • 2012 Presidential Election (archived 1/22/13)
      • 2016 Presidential Election (archived 1/21/17)
    • WORLD / INTERNATIONAL
      • Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
      • Cuba Embargo
      • Drone Strikes Overseas
      • Us Drone Shot Down by Iran
      • US-Iraq War (archived 12/31/11)
    • SEX & GENDER
      • Gay Marriage
      • Prostitution - Legalize It?
      • Born Gay? Origins of Sexual Orientation
    • ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS
      • Social Media
      • Video Games and Violence
      • Drug Use in Sports
      • Binge-Watching
      • Golf - Is It a Sport?
      • Olympics
      • National Anthem Protest
      • Fighting in Hockey
      • Pokémon
      • College Football Playoffs (archived 9/18/12)
    • ECONOMY & TAXES
      • Minimum Wage
      • Gold Standard
      • Corporate Tax Rate & Jobs
      • Churches and Taxes
      • Uber & Lyft
      • Social Security Privatization
      • Daylight Savings Time
      • Universal Basic Income
      • Penny - Keep It?
      • Big Three Auto (archived 5/15/09)
      • Insider Trading by Congress (archived 4/18/12)
    • YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
      • Watch Our Videos
      • Teachers' Corner
      • Readers' Comments
      • Who Uses ProCon.org?
      • Debate Topics
      • Testimonials
      • Donors & Sponsors
    • GET INVOLVED
      • ProCon.org Events
      • Suggest a Topic
      • Cite This Page
      • Share on Social Media
      • Volunteers / Interns
  • ABOUT US
    • ABOUT US
    • HOW WE WORK
    • WATCH OUR VIDEOS
    • FAQS
    • EVENTS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • DONORS & SPONSORS
  • TEACHERS' CORNER
  • HOME
  • |
  • FAQS
  • |
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • |
  • DONORS & SPONSORS

  • MORE
    ISSUES
 
  • ABOUT
    US
 
  • WATCH
    OUR VIDEOS
 
  • TEACHERS'
    CORNER

US - IRAQ WAR
Last updated on: 3/3/2015 1:27:05 PM PST US - Iraq War Home Page > Source Biographies > >Henry A. Waxman, JD

Henry A. Waxman, JD Biography

Title: Former US Representative (D-CA)
Position: Now Con to the question "Should the US Have Attacked Iraq?"
Reasoning:
"The Bush Administration's Iraq policy has been grounded in secrecy, deceit, and politics. Some suspected that a year ago; I refused to believe it. But now it is inescapable...

I voted for the Iraq Resolution last year. I relied on the President's representations about the imminent threat Iraq posed to the United States. And I relied on the statements other senior Administration officials-including the Vice President-made regarding Iraq's nuclear capability.

I won't make that same mistake again. They have squandered their credibility and the normal deference we give to any Administration, Republican or Democratic.

I say all this knowing full well we must finish what we started in Iraq. I feel that as strongly as any member of the House. As one who voted for last year's Resolution, I feel a responsibility to make sure we honor the sacrifice so many have already made by achieving a democratic and safe Iraq. I feel a special obligation to our troops and to make sure they have everything they need to be as safe and effective as possible."
Statement on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill, 2004, delivered on the House floor, Oct.16, 2003
[Editor's Note: Prior to Henry Waxman's 2003 Con position statement made above, his position was Pro the US attack on Iraq as indicated in his 2002 House floor speech below.]

"Today...it is the Congress that is voting first on a resolution of war...

This is why we have to get this resolution right. And this is why I strongly support the substitute, which emphasizes action by the UN and the international community...

In light of all this, if the UN does not act, it not only leaves Saddam unchecked but it undermines, perhaps fatally, the purpose of having or supporting a UN in the first place.

If the UN does not or cannot act, the substitute does nothing to compromise the ability of the Congress to authorize the use of force to protect America’s interests - unilaterally if necessary - if we believe it necessary at a later time...

Mr. Chairman, the goal I want is decisive UN action and the effective disarmament of Iraq. The substitute achieves that goal and should be approved. But if it is defeated, I believe supporting the President’s proposal brings us closer to realizing that goal than defeating the Resolution."
Statement Regarding the Possible War with Iraq, Speech delivered on the House floor, Oct. 10, 2002
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:  Experts
Individuals with PhD's, JD's, or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to the US - Iraq conflict. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to the US - Iraq conflict.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • US Representative (D-CA), 1975-2015
  • Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce, US House of Representatives, 2011-present
  • Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, US House of Representatives, 2009-2010
  • Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, US House of Representatives, 2007-2008
  • Member, American Jewish Congress
  • Member, Guardians of the Jewish Home for the Aged
  • Member, Sierra Club
  • Member, Congressional Children's Working Group
  • Member, House Democratic Steering Committee
  • Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, US House of Representatives, 1997-2006
  • Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, Committee on Energy and Commerce, US House of Representatives, 1995-1996
  • Chairman, Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, Committee on Energy and Commerce, US House of Representatives, 1979-1994
  • Former Chair, California State Assembly Health Committee, California State Assembly
  • Member, California State Assembly, 1968-1974
  • Education:
  • JD, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law, 1964
  • BA, Political Science, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), 1961
  • Other:
  • Co-Sponsor, Clean Sports Act of 2005 (H.R. 2565), May 24, 2005
  • Born on Sep. 12, 1939 in Los Angeles, CA
  • US - Iraq War Homepage
    Top Pro & Con Quotes
    Top Pro & Con Quotes
    Pro & Con Arguments
    Top 10 Pro & Con Arguments
    Historic timeline
    Historical Timeline, 1990 - 2011
    RECOMMENDED to you...
    1
    Did You Know?
    2
    Readers' Comments
    3
    Historical Timeline, Pre-History - 1989
    4
    Deaths from the War in Iraq
    5
    Costs of the Iraq War
    6
    Opinion Polls/Surveys
    7
    Key Documents
    8
    Facts About Iraq
    9
    Maps of Iraq, the Middle East, and the Arab League
    10
    Coalition Forces in Iraq
    11
    26 Countries' WMD Programs; A Global History of WMD Use
    12
    United Nations Reference
    13
    United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Iraq
    14
    US-Iraq Relations by US President, 1981-Mar. 19, 2003
    15
    Bush Administration Quotes on Iraq
    + PROS & CONS BY CATEGORY
    CORE QUESTION
    Justifications for Invading Iraq
    Saddam Hussein
    Weapons in Iraq
    US - Iraq Relations
    Iraq's Oil
    Iraqi Sectarianism
    Safety and Security
    Insurgency and Terrorism
    Prisoners of War
    Cost of the War
    The United Nations (UN)
    US Troop Reduction or Withdrawal
    + DIG DEEPER...
    Source Biographies
    Site Map
    Notices Archive
    Glossary
    Arab League Reference
    Ethnic and Religious Groups In Iraq
    Downing Street Memo
    Iraq Statements by Former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice
    Iraq Statements by Former US Department of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
    Iraq Statements by Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell
    Iraq Statements by US President George W. Bush
    Iraq Statements by US Vice President Cheney
    New Iraqi Flag Approved by Iraqi Lawmakers
    President Bush Announces Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended
    Remarks to the United Nations Security Council from US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.
    Saddam Hussein Executed on December 30, 2006
    43rd US President Speaks to the United Nations General Assembly
    Oct. 2002 Congressional Votes Authorizing the President
    to Use Military Force Against Iraq
    Massive Reconstruction Waste in Iraq Says Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
    2012 Presidential Candidates' Positions on US-Iraq War
    CITE THIS PAGE
    Who is the author?
    SHARE
    HOME
    ABOUT
    CITE THIS PAGE
    REPRINTING POLICY
    PRIVACY POLICY
    DISCLAIMER
    READER FAVORITES

    State Laws
    Debate Topics
    Critical Thinking Quotes
    Teaching Controversial Issues
    History Of...
    TRANSLATE
    into 100+ Languages and Dialects
    LET'S GET SOCIAL!
    Tweets by @procon_org
    ProCon.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.


    Contact Us

    233 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200
    Santa Monica, CA 90401




    Natalie Leppard
    Managing Editor
    procon@eb.com


    © 2023 ProCon.org
    All rights reserved
    Contact Us

    ProCon/Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
    325 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 200
    Chicago, Illinois 60654 USA


    Natalie Leppard
    Managing Editor
    procon@eb.com


    © 2023 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
    All rights reserved