NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — pre-invasion — bush-appeals — Viewing Item

Ready for war Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=5355&cid=12&cname=The+War+Against+Terrorism http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=5355&cid=12&cname=The+War+Against+Terrorism Bush prepares US for war Newsroom Agency George W Bush has prepared America for imminent war against Iraq in his second-only prime time speech on United States television as President. Mr Bush said he expected to see a vote on a second security council resolution, but left no doubt that the United States was prepared to attack Iraq without one. "If we act we will act, and we really don't need United Nations approval to do so ... When it comes to security we don't need anybody's permission," he said. President Bush accused the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein of conducting a "wilful charade" to defy the United Nations weapons inspectors. He said that while Saddam Hussein was appearing to disarm, he was still ordering the production of weapons of mass destruction. Iraqi operatives had also been told to hide chemical and biological agents - in some cases moving them around on a 12 and 24-hour cycle and hiding them in residential areas. While "praying for peace", Mr Bush said the issue was in the "final stages of diplomacy" and he was spending lot of time on the phone talking to fellow leaders about the need for the UN Security Council to "state the facts that Saddam hasn't disarmed." The President said United Nations weapons inspectors don't need more time or personnel in Iraq, and that they were days away from resolving the issue at the UN Security Council He said Saddam Hussein was a threat to America and his job was to protect the American people. "That is precisely what we will do," he said to reporters in a televised press conference after the speech. "If war is upon us because Saddam Hussein has made that choice we will have the best equipment, best plan for victory ... and we will respect innocent life in Iraq. "The risk of doing nothing, the risk of Saddam Hussein changing his mind and becoming a gentle soul is not a risk I am willing to take for the American people." Mr Bush dodged questions about possible U.S. casualties and the price to the U.S. economy, answering only that it was his job to protect America and the price of not taking action exceeded the price of war. "I swore to protect and defend the constitution," he said. "I hope we don't have to go to war but if we go to war we will disarm Iraq and if we go to war there will be a regime change," he said. Weapons inspectors, journalists and others in Iraq would be given a chance to leave Iraq before any military action started, Mr Bush said. 07-Mar-2003

Academics debunked powell { February 8 2003 } Assures not conquering { October 5 2002 } Bush makes case Bush meets blair portugal spaine { March 16 2003 } Bush tells un { September 13 2002 } Iraq blasts powell No bush coverage Pay off supporters Powell cited sham fine paper { February 7 2003 } Powell out of beckett Powells iraqi nuclear hoax { February 7 2003 } Ready for war Some iraq evidence fake { March 8 2003 } The u s will { September 19 2002 } Threatens Us will go baghdad alone { March 4 2003 } Us bribes coalition partners Us used forged reports Files Listed: 18

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