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Transcript of President Bush's statement
The White House ^ | 02-06-03 | President Bush

Posted on 02/06/2003 2:17:57 PM PST by erk

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 6, 2003

Statement by the President

February 6, 2003

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

The Roosevelt Room

4:33 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: The Secretary of State has now briefed the United Nations Security Council on Iraq's illegal weapons programs, its attempts to hide those weapons, and its links to terrorist groups. I want to thank Secretary Powell for his careful and powerful presentation of the facts.

The information in the Secretary's briefing and other information in our possession was obtained through great skill, and often at personal risk. Uncovering secret information in a totalitarian society is one of the most difficult intelligence challenges. Those who accept that challenge, both in our intelligence services and in those of our friends and allies, perform a great service to all free nations. And I'm grateful for their good work.

The Iraqi regime's violations of Security Council resolutions are evident, and they continue to this hour. The regime has never accounted for a vast arsenal of deadly biological and chemical weapons. To the contrary; the regime is pursuing an elaborate campaign to conceal its weapons materiels, and to hide or intimidate key experts and scientists, all in direct defiance of Security Council 1441.

This deception is directed from the highest levels of the Iraqi regime, including Saddam Hussein, his son, the Vice President, and the very official responsible for cooperating with inspectors. In intercepted conversations, we have heard orders to conceal materiels from the U.N. inspectors. And we have seen through satellite images concealment activity at close to 30 sites, including movement of equipment before inspectors arrive.

The Iraqi regime has actively and secretly attempted to obtain equipment needed to produce chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Firsthand witnesses have informed us that Iraq has at least seven mobile factories for the production of biological agents, equipment mounted on trucks and rails to evade discovery. Using these factories, Iraq could produce within just months hundreds of pounds of biological poisons.

The Iraqi regime has acquired and tested the means to deliver weapons of mass destruction. All the world has now seen the footage of an Iraqi Mirage aircraft with a fuel tank modified to spray biological agents over wide areas. Iraq has developed spray devices that could be used on unmanned aerial vehicles with ranges far beyond what is permitted by the Security Council. A UAV launched from a vessel off the American coast could reach hundreds of miles inland.

Iraq has never accounted for thousands of bombs and shells capable of delivering chemical weapons. The regime is actively pursuing components for prohibited ballistic missiles. And we have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons -- the very weapons the dictator tells the world he does not have.

One of the greatest dangers we face is that weapons of mass destruction might be passed to terrorists, who would not hesitate to use those weapons. Saddam Hussein has longstanding, direct and continuing ties to terrorist networks. Senior members of Iraqi intelligence and al Qaeda have met at least eight times since the early 1990s. Iraq has sent bomb-making and document forgery experts to work with al Qaeda. Iraq has also provided al Qaeda with chemical and biological weapons training.

We also know that Iraq is harboring a terrorist network, headed by a senior al Qaeda terrorist planner. The network runs a poison and explosive training center in northeast Iraq, and many of its leaders are known to be in Baghdad. The head of this network traveled to Baghdad for medical treatment and stayed for months. Nearly two dozen associates joined him there and have been operating in Baghdad for more than eight months.

The same terrorist network operating out of Iraq is responsible for the murder, the recent murder, of an American citizen, an American diplomat, Laurence Foley. The same network has plotted terrorism against France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Republic of Georgia, and Russia, and was caught producing poisons in London. The danger Saddam Hussein poses reaches across the world.

This is the situation as we find it. Twelve years after Saddam Hussein agreed to disarm, and 90 days after the Security Council passed Resolution 1441 by a unanimous vote, Saddam Hussein was required to make a full declaration of his weapons programs. He has not done so. Saddam Hussein was required to fully cooperate in the disarmament of his regime; he has not done so. Saddam Hussein was given a final chance; he is throwing that chance away.

The dictator of Iraq is making his choice. Now the nations of the Security Council must make their own. On November 8th, by demanding the immediate disarmament of Iraq, the United Nations Security Council spoke with clarity and authority. Now the Security Council will show whether its words have any meaning. Having made its demands, the Security Council must not back down, when those demands are defied and mocked by a dictator.

The United States would welcome and support a new resolution which makes clear that the Security Council stands behind its previous demands. Yet resolutions mean little without resolve. And the United States, along with a growing coalition of nations, is resolved to take whatever action is necessary to defend ourselves and disarm the Iraqi regime.

On September the 11th, 2001, the American people 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, radiological or nuclear weapons. Saddam Hussein can now be expected to begin another round of empty concessions, transparently false denials. No doubt, he will play a last-minute game of deception. The game is over.

All the world can rise to this moment. The community of free nations can show that it is strong and confident and determined to keep the peace. The United Nations can renew its purpose and be a source of stability and security in the world. The Security Council can affirm that it is able and prepared to meet future challenges and other dangers. And we can give the Iraqi people their chance to live in freedom and choose their own government.

Saddam Hussein has made Iraq into a prison, a poison factory, and a torture chamber for patriots and dissidents. Saddam Hussein has the motive and the means and the recklessness and the hatred to threaten the American people. Saddam Hussein will be stopped.

Thank you.

END 4:42 P.M. EST


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: presidentbush; saddam; war
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1 posted on 02/06/2003 2:17:57 PM PST by erk
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To: erk
nothing new, nothing has changed. we knew this
he is not declaring war
2 posted on 02/06/2003 2:21:05 PM PST by hapy
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To: erk
The same terrorist network operating out of Iraq is responsible for the murder, the recent murder, of an American citizen, an American diplomat, Laurence Foley. The same network has plotted terrorism against France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Republic of Georgia, and Russia, and was caught producing poisons in London. The danger Saddam Hussein poses reaches across the world.

Bush to the countries in bold..."Once again we'll bail your girly asses out."

3 posted on 02/06/2003 2:22:11 PM PST by Neets (Bush-He Rocks and ROLLS!!!)
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To: erk
I found his statement chilling and made me nervous what Saddam is capable of.
4 posted on 02/06/2003 2:22:48 PM PST by smith288 ("Don't worry about me. If something happens, I've just gone on higher.")
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To: hapy
I think that this was a "last chance to get on board" speech to the UN.
5 posted on 02/06/2003 2:23:11 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Even if the government took all your earnings, you wouldn’t be, in its eyes, a slave)
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To: erk
"The game is over...
Saddam Hussein will be stopped."

Dubya sounds like he has no doubts.
I believe him.
6 posted on 02/06/2003 2:23:30 PM PST by Once-Ler (I vote Dubya)
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To: erk
It's put up or shut up time for the UN.
7 posted on 02/06/2003 2:25:48 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: erk
Now the Security Council will show whether its words have any meaning.

Clear and blunt.

Very little weasel room here...

8 posted on 02/06/2003 2:31:51 PM PST by Interesting Times (Avoid global cooling -- sail the Caribbean on Freeps Ahoy!)
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To: erk
"a senior al Qaeda terrorist planner" "traveled to Baghdad for medical treatment and stayed for months"

I wonder how senior ?
9 posted on 02/06/2003 2:34:42 PM PST by 1America
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To: Once-Ler
A Reagan moment on Reagan's birthday!

If W can turn around the economy like Reagan did, he will cascade into a second term and bring along 5-10 new Republican senators.

I pray for his success and in doing so, I pray for my success.

10 posted on 02/06/2003 2:36:37 PM PST by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN
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To: Interesting Times
Now the Security Council will show whether its words have any meaning.

Clear and blunt... Very little weasel room here

Just curious, was your choice of the word weasel intentional?
(If so...I like it)

11 posted on 02/06/2003 2:37:00 PM PST by jla
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To: erk
bump
12 posted on 02/06/2003 2:38:04 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer (Let's Roll)
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To: erk
"Saddam Hussein will be stopped."

Fire at will.

13 posted on 02/06/2003 2:38:04 PM PST by Uncle Miltie (Islamofascism sucks!)
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To: erk
All the world can rise to this moment. The community of free nations can show that it is strong and confident and determined to keep the peace. The United Nations can renew its purpose and be a source of stability and security in the world. The Security Council can affirm that it is able and prepared to meet future challenges and other dangers. And we can give the Iraqi people their chance to live in freedom and choose their own government.

Saddam Hussein has made Iraq into a prison, a poison factory, and a torture chamber for patriots and dissidents. Saddam Hussein has the motive and the means and the recklessness and the hatred to threaten the American people. Saddam Hussein will be stopped.

Awesome.

14 posted on 02/06/2003 2:39:18 PM PST by Huck
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To: Interesting Times
especially because the last resolution 1441 was "now this time we really, really, really mean it" (add 16 more "really's" on to account for all of the resolutions passed by the UN which Iraq has failed to comply with) and the foolish appeasers simply want another resolution which will say "next time we'll really, really, really, really, really mean it" (with an extra 20 or so "really"'s added on)
15 posted on 02/06/2003 2:41:02 PM PST by Steven W.
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To: hapy
nothing new, nothing has changed. we knew this he is not declaring war

You are totally oblivious to what is going on.

16 posted on 02/06/2003 2:41:23 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: Blood of Tyrants

17 posted on 02/06/2003 2:41:38 PM PST by Nick Danger (Freeps Ahoy! Carribean cruise May 31... from $660 http://www.freeper.org)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
I think that this was a "last chance to get on board" speech to the UN.

More like the UN is already on board; at least the five permanent members of the security council which is all that counts. Bush is playing this like a fiddle.

18 posted on 02/06/2003 2:42:42 PM PST by cinFLA
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To: erk
"Iraq has developed spray devices that could be used on unmanned aerial vehicles with ranges far beyond what is permitted by the Security Council. A UAV launched from a vessel off the American coast could reach hundreds of miles inland."

This part is something I have never heard before and find it quite frightening!!!
19 posted on 02/06/2003 2:42:53 PM PST by WestCoastGal
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To: erk
Saving...
20 posted on 02/06/2003 2:43:42 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma
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