For Immediate Release
March 7, 2003
Global Message
This has been an important week on two fronts in the war on terror:
We captured the mastermind of the September 11th attacks, Khalid
Shaikh Mohammed.
We have arrived at an important moment in confronting the threat posed
by Saddam Hussein and his weapons of terror.
Friday, the UN Security Council will receive an update from the chief
weapons inspector. The world needs him to answer a single question:
Has the Iraqi regime fully and unconditionally disarmed, or has it not?
Iraq's dictator has made a public show of destroying a few missiles.
Yet our intelligence shows that even as he is destroying these, he has
ordered the continued production of the very same type of missiles.
Iraqi operatives continue to hide biological and chemical agents to
avoid detection by inspectors, and we know from multiple intelligence
sources that Iraqi weapons scientists continue to be threatened with
harm should they cooperate with UN inspectors.
If the Iraqi regime were disarming, we would know it because we would
see it. Token gestures are not acceptable. The only acceptable outcome
is the one already defined by a unanimous vote of the Security Council:
total disarmament.
Saddam Hussein possesses weapons of terror, and provides funding,
training, and safe haven to terrorists who would willingly use weapons
of mass destruction. If the world fails to confront the threat posed by
the Iraqi regime, free nations would assume immense and unacceptable
risks.
In the event of conflict, America accepts our responsibility to
protect innocent lives in every way possible. We will bring food and
medicine to the Iraqi people, and will help that nation to build a just
government after decades of brutal dictatorship. The form and
leadership of that government is for the Iraqi people to choose.
Across the world, and in every part of America, people of good will
are hoping and praying for peace. Our goal is peace - for our Nation,
for our friends and allies, and for the people of the Middle East. The
cause of peace will be advanced only when the terrorists lose a wealthy
patron and protector when Saddam Hussein is fully and finally disarmed.