Bush Says He Disagrees with Protestors on Threat from Iraq
BBSNews - 2003-02-18 -- Responding to questions about the effect of weekend worldwide protests
against a possible war in Iraq, President Bush said some do not view Iraqi
leader Saddam Hussein as a risk to peace, but "I respectfully disagree."
Speaking at the White House February 18 following a swearing-in ceremony
for William Donaldson as the new chairman of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, Bush said war is his last choice as a means of achieving Iraqi
disarmament. "But the risk of doing nothing is even a worse option as far
as I'm concerned. I owe it to the American people to secure this country.
I will do so," he said.
Bush also said the administration will continue to work with other members
of the United Nations Security Council on a new resolution to follow up on
Resolution 1441 on Iraqi disarmament approved in November. "We don't need
a second resolution," Bush said. "It's clear this guy could even care less
about the first resolution. He's in total defiance of 1441." But he said
the United States wants to work with friends and allies to see if a second
resolution can be concluded.
The president said it is clear that Saddam Hussein is stalling in hopes
that the coalition against him will fall apart, but Bush said he is
determined to hold the Iraqi leader to account -- both to protect
Americans and to demonstrate the usefulness and effectiveness of the
United Nations. The best way to deal with threats from terrorists is with
effective international organizations, he said. "[I]f the United Nations
can't enforce its own resolutions ... it says something about its utility
as we head into the future."
From the US State Department.
###
Michael Hess is the Editor of BBSNews in Charlotte, NC. Write to the editor here. Not all submissions are published. Or visit the completely new BBSNews Blog and Forum on our front page - Please Participate in BBSNews!
|
