President George W. Bush (seated) finishes signing the joint congressional resolution authorizing the U.S. use of force against Iraq if needed on Oct. 16, 2002, at the White House. Behind him are (from left) Sen. John Warner, R-Va.; Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss.; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Rep. Robert Andrews, D-N.J.; and Rep. Roy Blount, R-Mo. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate voted overwhelmingly to give Bush the authorization he sought to wage war if necessary to disarm Iraqi President Saddam Hussein of his suspected weapons of mass destruction.