president. he can play an historic role in leading us to solve this crisis in a nonviolent way. >> make no mistake about it. our vital interests are at stake. >> bush knew that you had to let that process go forward. you couldn't just declare war and do it. >> the hope of peace remains in my heart and the hearts of us all, but this debate is now about war. >> power in a matter of days can bring this villain to his knees. >> let us stop beating the drums of war. let us oppose this march to violence. >> nowhere is it ordained that the new world order must begin with a new world war. >> they had a great national debate and the argument for going to war prevailed. >> president bush said the action by congress now shows saddam hussein that the united states government is serious and united in its demand that iraq withdraw from kuwait or face the consequences. >> we have now closed ranks