The White House
President George W. Bush
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For Immediate Release
August 24, 2006


November 20, 2002

Global Message

KEY POINTS

  • The NATO Summit in Prague, Czech Republic will advance two key objectives. First, we will expand the alliance, furthering the vision of a Europe whole, free, and at peace. Second, we will move forward in transforming NATO to meet the new common threats of the 21st century.

  • The NATO Alliance faces dangers very different from those it was formed to confront. Yet never has our need for collective defense been more urgent. For terrorists and terror states, every free nation is a potential target - including the free nations of Europe.

  • NATO members are working to transform their forces to meet new threats and to increase the ability of our forces to work together.

  • Last week, Saddam Hussein accepted UN inspections. The world has heard such pledges before - and seen them violated by systematic deception. We have now called an end to that game. Delay and defiance will invite the severest consequences.

  • Our goal is to secure the peace, through the comprehensive and verified disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Voluntarily or by force, that goal will be achieved.

  • The hopes of all mankind depend upon the unity and courage of the great democracies. In this hour of challenge, NATO will do what it has done before: We will stand firm against the enemies of freedom, and we will prevail.
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