Rense.com
Path For Iraq To Avoid War
10-16-2
| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President
Bush said Wednesday the only way Iraq can avoid war is to completely surrender
its suspected weapons of mass destruction and allow inspectors access to
any site in Iraq without delay. "Hopefully, we can do this without military action," Bush said. "Yet if Iraq is to avoid military action by the international community, it has the obligation to prove compliance with all the world's demands." Bush spoke in the White House East Room as he signed a congressional resolution giving him authority to wage war against Iraq if needed. The signing was a formality but the White House chose to hold a ceremony for it complete with scores of members of Congress and top Cabinet officers. Two key Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota and House Democratic leader Richard Gephardt of Missouri were absent. The joint resolution was approved in convincing fashion by the House of Representatives and the Senate last week after a debate over whether Iraq and its suspected weapons of mass destruction pose an imminent threat. In his remarks, Bush laid down some tough demands for Iraq to undertake to avoid conflict, even as Baghdad tries to negotiate the return of U.N. weapons inspectors. Chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix said Tuesday Iraq had not agreed to all ground rules for arms inspections. "Compliance will begin with an accurate and full and complete accounting for all chemical, biological and nuclear weapons materials, as well as missiles and other means of delivery anywhere in Iraq. Failure to make such an accounting would be further indication of the regime's bad faith and aggressive intent," Bush said. "Inspectors must have access to any site in Iraq at any time without pre-clearance, without delay, without exceptions. Inspectors must be permitted to operate under new, effective rules. And the Iraqi regime must accept those rules without qualification or negotiation," he said. 'ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES' He also said Iraq must allow witnesses to its "illegal activities" to be interviewed outside of the country. "These witnesses must be free to bring their entire families with them, so they are beyond the reach of Saddam Hussein's terror, Saddam Hussein's torture, Saddam Hussein's murder," Bush said. The United States is seeking to convince the U.N. Security Council to approve a tough new resolution demanding Iraq disarm or face war. France wants a U.S.-drafted resolution changed to allow inspectors to do their work first, report any difficulties and then have the Security Council decide on military force. Top Bush administration officials, including U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John Negroponte, met Tuesday afternoon to discuss prospects for advancing the debate. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said: "We're still at this deep diplomatic level of exploring words, and what words can achieve breakthroughs, and how to discuss those words with our friends." Bush said the congressional resolution "symbolizes the united purpose of our nation." He made clear he has not ordered the use of force but might have to do so. "Either the Iraqi regime will give up its weapons of mass destruction or for the sake of peace the United States will lead a global coalition to disarm that regime. If any doubt our nation's resolve, our determination, they would be unwise to test it," Bush said. Underscoring what he called Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's ability to confound U.N. weapons inspectors, Bush said that in 1991 Saddam was originally given 15 days by the United Nations Security Council to fully disclose all weapons of mass destruction. "The dictator has successfully defied that obligation for 4,199 days," Bush said. Iraq has frustrated the work of inspectors by firing warning shots, tapping their telephones, confiscating their documents, blocking aerial inspection flights and barring access to sites for hours while evidence was carried away, Bush said. Bush pledged to help Iraq reform once it has a government "committed to the freedom and well-being of its people," and he said he has carefully weighed the human costs of every option before the United States. "If we go into battle, as a last resort, we will confront an enemy capable of irrational miscalculations, capable of terrible deeds," Bush said, referring to fears that Saddam, in desperation, could unleash chemical or biological weapons on U.S. troops. |
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