For Immediate Release
December 11, 2002
Global Message
KEY POINTS
Disarming the Iraqi regime is a central commitment
of the war on terror. We must prevent terrorist groups and outlaw
regimes from threatening the American people with catastrophic harm.
For more than a decade, Saddam Hussein has consistently and
systematically violated his obligations to the world and undermined UN
inspections. And he only admitted to a massive biological weapons
program after being confronted with the evidence. As the new
inspections process proceeds, the United States will be making only one
judgment: Has Saddam Hussein changed his behavior of the last 11 years
and decided to cooperate willingly and comply completely, or has he
not? Thus far we are not seeing the fundamental shift in practice
and attitude that the world is demanding. Iraq's letters to the UN
regarding inspections show that their attitude is grudging and
conditional. And in recent days, Iraq has fired on American and British
pilots enforcing the UN's no-fly zone. Iraq was required by the UN
to provide a full and accurate declaration of its weapons of mass
destruction and ballistic missile programs. We will judge the
declaration's honesty and completeness only after we have thoroughly
examined it. The UN Security Council and the United States have
told Saddam Hussein, the game is over. Saddam Hussein will fully disarm
himself of weapons of mass destruction, and if he does not, America
will lead a coalition to disarm him. War is the last option for
confronting threats. Yet the temporary peace of denial and looking away
from danger would only be a prelude to a broader war and greater
horror. By showing our resolve today, we are building a future of
peace.
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