Posted on 09/13/2002 6:13:15 AM PDT by frmrda
Bush Doubts Iraq Will Meet Deadline Sep 13, 8:57 AM (ET)
By BARRY SCHWEID
UNITED NATIONS (AP)- President Bush said Friday it is "highly doubtful" that Saddam Hussein will comply with U.S. demands and avoid a confrontation with the world community.
In a meeting with African leaders at the international organization, Bush reiterated his request for a U.N. resolution, demanding that Saddam disarm his weapons programs.
"We're talking days and weeks, not months and years," the president said in outlining his request for a U.N.-imposed deadline on Saddam.
"That's essential for the safety of the world," he said.
Bush also questioned why some Democratic lawmakers want delay in voting on a resolution allowing him to act against Saddam until the U.N. passes its measure.
Chuckling, the president said he could not imagine being an elected member of Congress and saying, "Vote for me and, oh, on matters of national security, I think I'm going to want somebody else to act."
Bush made the remarks one day after asking the U.N. to take action to join with the United States in taking action against Saddam unless the Iraqi president quickly meets a series of demands, including unconditional disarmament and an end to persecution of minorities.
"I am highly doubtful that he will meet our demands. I hope he does, but I'm highly doubtful," Bush told reporters. "The reason I'm doubtful is he's had 11 years to meet the demands. For 11 long years, he has basically told the United Nations and the world he doesn't care."
Bush's comments came as Secretary of State Colin Powell was launching talks Friday with key foreign leaders to see if they can put together a U.N. resolution that calls on Iraq to submit to weapons inspections or risk grave consequences.
Only Britain stands firmly with the United States in its hard-line approach to Iraq's Saddam Hussein. The three other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, Russia, China and France, have the power to veto and torpedo a resolution.
Powell's tough assignment is to try to gain their support.
"I think the U.N. Security Council realizes we have a problem they have to deal with," the secretary said.
Interviewed on CBS's "The Early Show," Powell said that any new U.N. resolutions "can't be the kinds of resolutions we've had in the past."
On ABC's "Good Morning America," he said, "There has to be deadlines this time. In the absence of deadlines, the Iraqis will string us out, will try to negotiate away or simply ignore the resolution."
In a speech Thursday night, Powell lashed out at the Iraqi leader.
"Saddam Hussein has long made an unholy alliance with terrorists," Powell said. "What is not arguable is that he is in violation of international law."
Raising the specter of war, Bush had told skeptical world leaders Thursday to confront the "grave and gathering danger" of Saddam's Iraq - or stand aside as the United States acts. Hesitant allies asked Bush not to go it alone, while some members of Congress said the president still had not made the case for an attack.
Powell stressed on Friday, however, that Bush has not yet made a decision.
"The president has made it clear that he feels Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi regime to be abhorrent," he said on CBS, "but he's not declaring war on anybody at this point."
Powell said he would confer with Security Council partners Friday but that he did not anticipate immediately putting together a new resolution. Representatives of other nations likely would need the weekend to consult with leaders back home, he said, saying a new resolution might not be forthcoming until next week.
"But I don't want to put a time dimension on it right now because I think it's something for me and my colleagues in the Security Council to work out," Powell said.
"We're often accused of being unilateral," he said on ABC. Powell said Bush's appearance at the U.N. "was a desire to speak to the international body, to be multilateral."
In deciding to try to put together a new U.N. resolution on Iraq - there have been 16 since the Persian Gulf war of 1990-91 calling for weapons inspection and disarmament - Bush has taken a step in the direction of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and other world leaders who are opposed to unilateral action.
But a senior U.S. official responded negatively when asked if there was a chance Saddam would comply with U.N. demands this time. The official added there will be no negotiations with Iraq.
Powell had a luncheon scheduled with the foreign ministers of Russia, France, Britain and China, and a separate session with the other members of the Council.
Also, Powell was to meet separately with Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan of China and, briefly, with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepan.
In Washington, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said, "I don't think that the case for pre-emptive attack has been made conclusively yet. That doesn't mean it can't be."
Republican lawmakers praised Bush's speech and urged Democrats to support him.
Just think if they do continue with delay and the Administration either forces a vote over the head of their leadership or goes in without them -- two circumstances where the Democrats can take no credit at all for ridding the world of Sadaam's regime.
The Democrats will look crazier than wasps when their nest is under attack.
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, Mississippi Republican, said Democrats are still searching for an election issue as the opposition party. "When you don't have anything substantive to talk about, you start talking about process or how you need more information," Mr. Lott said. "That's what's happening here. Senators that are grouchy that they're not getting enough information ... they can't complain about the war on terror, they can't complain about the economy because the economy appears to be improving. And so what do they have to complain about? 'Oh, gee, I need more information.'"At the end of that article:
Mr. Kyl dismissed complaints that lawmakers were not being briefed adequately on the war, noting that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld would conduct another briefing for the Senate today. "It's not hard to be briefed by the administration," Mr. Kyl said. "Certainly, the majority leader has access to a lot more material than I do. Except for the specifics of operations ... that information is available to us by picking up the telephone."
Soooooo true.
thinking before posting helps
So glad it's getting more coverage!!
In a way, I'm glad that the little Tommy DemonRAT is putting politics over U.S. interests. I welcome any and every advantage the Republicans can get to regain control of the Senate and hold the House. How in the world are we ever going to know what President Bush and his administration can do toward turning back the tide of liberalism if he can't get a fair chance, whether it deals with the judiciary, education, social programs, etc. He'll never get a fair opportunity to demonstrate to the American people what can be done unless he has a Congress that is willing to support his positions. In fact, forget about a Congress even supporting the President's positions, at least let him have a majority on the various committees so that his recommendations/nominations can make it to the Senate and House floors for full congressional votes!
OOOoooooo....our little Obstruction-in-Chief wannabe, li'l Tommy Boy, may have bitten off more than he can chew.
On a slightly different note...was it just me, or did both Daschle and Ritter sound like they had been comparing notes yesterday? They seemed to be saying the same things.
Somebody probably already answered this, but IIRC he wasn't in ffice yet, or only for a few minutes before the cowardly mad mullahs showed their true color. The hostages were released either the day before, or the day OF, The Great Man's inauguration.
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