Missouri's two U.S. senators say America's ready for war if Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein doesn't disarm and step aside.

The Bush administration has no alternative but to use force if necessary to remove Hussein from power, senators Jim Talent and Kit Bond said Saturday at the 33rd annual Lincoln Day celebration in Cape Girardeau.

Hussein must be stopped from getting nuclear weapons, they said. The senators said Hussein has repeatedly ignored the demands of the United Nations, made war against neighboring countries and killed thousands of his countrymen with chemical weapons.

"The time has come when we have to enforce the resolutions of the United Nations and disarm this terrible tyrant," Bond told the crowd of more than 300 area Republicans at the A.C. Brase Arena Building, decorated with red and blue balloons and American flag balloons.

Talent, the keynote speaker at the Lincoln Day dinner, said U.N. inspections in Iraq haven't worked.

"We've been there. We've done that," he said. "This problem is not going to go away if we do nothing."

The only way to keep Hussein from getting nuclear weapons is to remove him from power, Talent said.

"I am confident about American resolve," he told the party faithful. "This is not the time to stop, but to finish the job."

Talent and Bond told reporters prior to the dinner that they believe a strong coalition of nations will support military action against Iraq despite reservations of countries like France and Germany.

Bond said that if the U.N. doesn't take a strong stand against Hussein it could become a "toothless" organization that will cease to play a significant role in world affairs.

More than 300 area Republicans turned out for the annual dinner, which attracted the top GOP leaders in the state including several from Southeast Missouri. The Cape Girardeau County Republican Women's Club sponsored the event.

Liberal legislation

State Rep. Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, dumped what he called liberal legislation into a trash can at the podium.

"Our bills used to go in the trash can," Jetton said as he talked of the changes in the state capital now that Republicans control both the House and the Senate.

Three awards were handed out at the dinner. Tom Schulte, district manager for Bond, received the Bill Emerson Award for public service. It is named for the late congressman from Southeast Missouri.

Retired Cape Girardeau County auditor H. Weldon Macke received the Tuff Tusk Award. John and Anne Bradshaw and Melvin and Mary Kasten received the Party Patriot Award.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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