For Immediate Release
February 17, 2003
Global Message
KEY POINTS
America is an active member of institutions that come together
for the purposes of peace, mutual security, and to stand together
against those nations that threaten their neighbors.
UN Resolution 1441 is not about inspections. It recognizes Iraq
has been in material breach of its obligations for the past 11 years
and that Iraq must come into compliance and disarm.
The few results we've gotten from Iraq occurred only because
the UN Security Council showed determination and seriousness.
Yet to this day, we have not seen the level of cooperation that
was expected or hoped for. Inspectors are still being minded, watched,
and bugged, and do not have the freedom of access around Iraq they need
to do their job well.
We have not had a complete, accurate declaration. If Iraq was
serious in this matter, they would give the world all the evidence
needed that their weapons of mass destruction are gone. But questions
remain about the unaccounted for anthrax, botulinum, VX, growth media,
and 30,000 chemical and biological munitions.
These are not responsible actions by Iraq, but efforts to
deceive, deny, divert, and to throw us off the path. More inspections
and a longer inspection period will not move us away from the central
problem we are facing: Iraq has failed to comply.
Iraq's continued noncompliance requires the Security Council to
begin to think through the consequences of walking away from this
problem, or the reality that we have to face this problem. The security
of the region, the hopes for the people of Iraq themselves, and our
security rests upon meeting our responsibilities and, if it comes to
it, invoking the serious consequences called for in 1441.
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