Bush Sr. Defends U.S. Plan to Attack Iraq

lasvegassun ^ | 2/12/2003 | ap

[TLBSHOW]

Bush Sr. Defends U.S. Plan to Attack Iraq

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former President Bush said Wednesday the United States is obligated as a world leader to protect itself and other nations against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"If we've learned nothing else in the wake of Sept. 11, we've learned that we've got an obligation to protect our people, and others as well, from international terror," said Bush, who was president from 1989-1992 and led allied forces against Saddam in the Persian Gulf War.

The father of the current president added, "Only the United States can lead in taking actions against a ruthless dictator who has wrought havoc with his own people and seeks now, in clear and direct violation of international law, to acquire more deadly weapons of mass destruction."

The former president, speaking at a luncheon to raise money to rebuild girls' schools in Afghanistan, dismissed critics who oppose the United States using military force to disarm Iraq. A growing list of nations also have voiced opposition, encouraging the Bush administration to give U.N. weapons inspectors more time to do their job.

"I believe that America is not going to heed the selfish voices of isolationism that want us to pull back from our global responsibilities, that want us to say, in essence, 'We've done our part, and now it's time for somebody else to take care of the problems in the world,'" the former president said.

He said he could not offer any insight into his son's thoughts or military strategy, but called himself optimistic about the country's future if it heads to battle against Iraq.

"I know that better days lie ahead than right now if we only have the courage of our convictions to lead and shoulder the responsibilities that we cannot shirk," he said. "And if we don't, if we, the United States of America, doesn't do it, who will?"