WAR WATCH : It’s Now on Hussein’s Shoulders : <i> The Times asked some California congressmen to interpret the course of the Persian Gulf crisis as the days count down to President Bush’s Jan. 15 deadline. </i>

The untold story of the gulf crisis to date involves the thousands of lives that have been spared because of President Bush’s bold response to Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. Short of this U.S. action, Hussein would have invaded Saudi Arabia, forcing the United States and its allies into a ground war in the gulf with no time to adequately prepare. More important, it is only because of U.S. resolve and President Bush’s diplomacy that a peaceful resolution to the crisis remains an option. A bipartisan majority in Congress now appears poised to strengthen the President’s hand by granting him authority to take military action as a last resort.

It is increasingly clear that time for resolving this crisis is running short. Hussein is moving quickly to develop weapons of mass destruction, including missiles capable of delivering poison gas. He is also less than a year away from obtaining the capability to build and launch nuclear weapons.

The outcome of this crisis--specifically the question of peace or war--rests squarely on the shoulders of Saddam Hussein. Like most people, I do not want to see America go to war. But I will continue to support my President and those men and women serving their country in Saudi Arabia, including my nephew Eric who is among those now serving on the front lines.