"Both the timing and the policy are subject to question", he said in a statement.
Asked about Lott's criticism, Defense Secretary William S. Cohen, himself a former Republican senator, said" said: "I am prepared to place 30 years of public service on the line to say the only factor that was important in this decision was what was in the American people's best interests".
Just a month ago, Clinton ordered an attack on Iraq but called it off at the last minute when Hussein promised to cooperate with UNSCOM inspectors.
"Frankly, I would have done it two weeks ago, and the president almost did", said KSG Dean Joseph S. Nye Jr., former assistant secretary of defense under Clinton.
The house had been scheduled to begin debate on four articles of impeachment against Clinton today, with votes likely on Friday, but shortly after the attack began House leaders decided to delay the impeachment debate.
The top two Democrats in Congress voiced their support for the attack. "Saddam Hussein should make no mistake that despite domestic political differences in the United States, the American people and Congress stand firmly behind the defense of our nation's vital interests", Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) said in a statement.
Observers said they agreed with Daschle and Gephardt that the attack was not politically motivated.
Anyone who analyzes the situation realizes the timing was dictated by other events", said Asthenia B. Carter, Ford Foundation professor of science and international affairs at the KSG.
"It's always unbecoming when, as we are putting our servicemen in harm's way, people are making suggestions about why they were sent", he added.
Clinton also alluded to the impeachment debate.
"Saddam Hussein and the other enemies of peace may have thought that the serious debate currently before the House of Representatives would distract Americans, weaken our resolve to face them down", he said. "But once more, the United States has proven that although we are never eager to use force, when we must act in America's vital interests we will do so."
Army Gen. Hugh Shelton, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon was sending an additional 36 combat aircraft to the Gulf. He said more ground troops also would go.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, addressing his nation last night, said there was "no realistic alternative to military force.... We act because we must".
Clinton, noting that the holy month of Ramadan starts this weekend, said the airstrikes were necessary now because "for us to initiate military action during Ramadan would be profoundly offensive to the Arab World".
Wire dispatches were used in the compilation of this report.