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 Home > News & Policies > February 2003

For Immediate Release
February 13, 2003

Global Message

KEY POINTS

  • The Iraqi regime's violations of Security Council resolutions are evident, and they continue. The regime has never accounted for a vast arsenal of deadly biological and chemical weapons, and is pursuing an elaborate campaign to conceal its weapons materials, and to hide or intimidate key experts and scientists.

  • Saddam Hussein was given a final chance; he is throwing that chance away. The Security Council must show whether its words have any meaning. Having made its demands, the Security Council must face up to the challenges before it. Its responsibilities did not end with passage of Resolution 1441, but only began.

  • On September 11, 2001, America saw what terrorists could do by turning four airplanes into weapons. We will not wait to see what terrorists or terrorist states could do with chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons.

  • The people of Iraq are not our enemies. The true enemy of the Iraqi people is Saddam Hussein, and they have suffered long enough under this tyrant. And the Iraqi people can be certain the United States is committed to helping them build a better future. If conflict occurs, America will bring Iraq food, medicine, supplies and, most importantly, freedom.

  • We seek an Iraq that is democratic, unified, multi-ethnic, which has no weapons of mass destruction, no links to terrorists, and is at peace with its neighbors.

  • If we must take military action, we will demonstrate that we want to liberate, not occupy Iraq or control its economic resources, and would safeguard the territorial unity of Iraq.

  • Iraq's oil belongs to all of the Iraqi people and any action taken in this area is solely for their benefit. We will work to protect and preserve Iraq's oil sector, and will support Iraqi efforts to restore production if it is cut off.

  • We would begin the process of economic and political reconstruction, helping to put Iraq on the path to prosperity and freedom, and would stay as long as is necessary to do this, not one day more.

  • In a military conflict, an immediate objective will be humanitarian assistance to civilians. Food, medicine, water and fuel will be restored. People who have fled their home in fear will be cared for.