Text of Bush Ultimatum

The White House ^

[steveegg]

'Tis good (even if you forgot to ping me in on it :-)

[Salem]

Thank God, thank God the Bush Administration didn't cave in to the leftists, the peaceniks, the appeasers and the America haters in country and overseas. What a man of caliber. From Bush, to Rummy, to Rice, I'm still incredulous we have an Administration of this caliber after the Clinton nightmare years.

Totally amazing....

[dixie sass]

Short and to the point. I hope that Saddam H. takes it seriously and doesn't underestimate the President.

[computerjunkie]

"Thank God, thank God the Bush Administration didn't cave in to the leftists, the peaceniks, the appeasers and the America haters in country and overseas."

Amen! Even more reason he needs our prayers now.

[OperationFreedom]

thanks!

[Victoria Delsoul]

May God bless our President!

[DonnerT]

But not surprising if you believe in a Devine Power.

[Alas Babylon!]

Where's the part where he says the UNSC didn't have the fortitude????

[Alas Babylon!]

From the live thread, and I did hear this...Nov 8th voted unanimously.....it will not disarm so long as hussein holds power....past 4 1/2 months us and allies have tried to enforce long standing demands....some of sec council has publicly said they will veto .....many nations do have the resolve and fortitude to act against this threat to peace ....UN sec council has not lived up to its responsibility...so we will.....

Why isn't that in the posted text?

[dennisw]

Only an ultimatum for Saddam and company. More like a love bomb for the Iraqi people.

LETS ROLL!

[Alas Babylon!]

Dude!!!! Go back to the link on the White House. you left out this part:

In the case of Iraq, the Security Council did act, in the early 1990s. Under Resolutions 678 and 687 -- both still in effect -- the United States and our allies are authorized to use force in ridding Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. This is not a question of authority, it is a question of will.

Last September, I went to the U.N. General Assembly and urged the nations of the world to unite and bring an end to this danger. On November 8th, the Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1441, finding Iraq in material breach of its obligations, and vowing serious consequences if Iraq did not fully and immediately disarm.

Today, no nation can possibly claim that Iraq has disarmed. And it will not disarm so long as Saddam Hussein holds power. For the last four-and-a-half months, the United States and our allies have worked within the Security Council to enforce that Council's long-standing demands. Yet, some permanent members of the Security Council have publicly announced they will veto any resolution that compels the disarmament of Iraq. These governments share our assessment of the danger, but not our resolve to meet it. Many nations, however, do have the resolve and fortitude to act against this threat to peace, and a broad coalition is now gathering to enforce the just demands of the world. The United Nations Security Council has not lived up to its responsibilities, so we will rise to ours.

In recent days, some governments in the Middle East have been doing their part...

Glad I caught that. I thought I was gonig nuts....

[Right_in_Virginia]

"We are a peaceful people -- yet we're not a fragile people, and we will not be intimidated by thugs and killers. If our enemies dare to strike us, they and all who have aided them, will face fearful consequences."

Yes.

Thank you. And may God bless you, Mr. President for expressing in words the feelings of my soul.

I'm proud and grateful that you are our President and the leader of all in this world who value freedom.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[ConservativeConvert]

I thought it was a brilliant, well delivered, history-making speech.

[rwfromkansas]

We may not attack immediately..."at a time of our choosing" because of reports that Rumsfeld and the others wanted a 72-hr deadline for final preps. But, the window for Saddam to choose is 48 hours.

In other news, it is reported from ABC that Saddam has been moving weapons into the southern no-fly zone. Also, he has launched an oil spill in the desert to try to slow troops.

We may have to attack at least briefly ahead of the deadline to try to stop such movements.

[Bob]

US officer can't accept surrender, tells 'em "Go back, not yet."

The report that I saw (I believe it was late last week.) identified the unit as British Marines rather than US Marines.

It probably makes no real difference anyway. It wouldn't surprise me if a whole bunch of Iraqis were just waiting for their chance to surrender.

[rwfromkansas]

We are on guard for such a possibility...

[rwfromkansas]

I think the President will ask us to do that in THE speech....after he announces hostilities have begun.

[rwfromkansas]

I don't know, I wasn't really bothered by that; Jennings implicated the French in the matter and did not just blame Bush like I expected.

[EarlyBird]

You left out two important paragraphs:

"Last September, I went to the U.N. General Assembly and urged the nations of the world to unite and bring an end to this danger. On November 8th, the Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1441, finding Iraq in material breach of its obligations, and vowing serious consequences if Iraq did not fully and immediately disarm.

"Today, no nation can possibly claim that Iraq has disarmed. And it will not disarm so long as Saddam Hussein holds power. For the last four-and-a-half months, the United States and our allies have worked within the Security Council to enforce that Council's long-standing demands. Yet, some permanent members of the Security Council have publicly announced they will veto any resolution that compels the disarmament of Iraq. These governments share our assessment of the danger, but not our resolve to meet it. Many nations, however, do have the resolve and fortitude to act against this threat to peace, and a broad coalition is now gathering to enforce the just demands of the world. The United Nations Security Council has not lived up to its responsibilities, so we will rise to ours."

Bush basically called the French cowards here. I heard it and took notice, but couldn't find it in your post. I got this text from whitehouse.gov.