For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 8, 2003
War on Terror
President's Radio Address
Audio
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This has been an important week on
two fronts of our war against terror. First, American and Pakistani
authorities captured the mastermind of the September the 11th attacks
against our country, Khalid Sheik Mohammed. This is a landmark
achievement in disrupting the al Qaeda network, and we believe it will
help us prevent future acts of terror. We are currently working with
over 90 countries and have dealt with over 3,000 terrorists, who have
been detained, arrested, or otherwise will not be a problem for the
United States.
Second, the Chief United Nations Weapons Inspector reported
yesterday to the Security Council on his efforts to verify Saddam
Hussein's compliance with Resolution 1441. This resolution requires
Iraq to fully and unconditionally disarm itself of nuclear, chemical
and biological weapons materials, as well as the prohibited missiles
that could be used to deliver them. Unfortunately, it is clear that
Saddam Hussein is still violating the demands of the United Nations by
refusing to disarm.
Iraqi's dictator has made a public show of producing and destroying
a few prohibited missiles. Yet, our intelligence shows that even as he
is destroying these few missiles, he has ordered the continued
production of the very same type of missiles. Iraqi operatives
continue to play a shell game with inspectors, moving suspected
prohibited materials to different locations every 12 to 24 hours. And
Iraqi weapons scientists continue to be threatened with harm should
they cooperate in interviews with U.N. inspectors.
These are not the actions of a regime that is disarming. These are
the actions of a regime engaged in a willful charade. If the Iraqi
regime were disarming, we would know it -- because we would see it;
Iraq's weapons would be presented to inspectors and destroyed.
Inspection teams do not need more time, or more personnel -- all they
need is what they have never received, the full cooperation of the
Iraqi regime. The only acceptable outcome is the outcome already
demanded by a unanimous vote of the Security Council: total
disarmament.
Saddam Hussein has a long history of reckless aggression and
terrible crimes. He possesses weapons of terror. He provides funding
and training and safe haven to terrorists who would willingly deliver
weapons of mass destruction against America and other peace-loving
countries.
The attacks of September the 11, 2001 showed what the enemies of
America did with four airplanes. We will not wait to see what
terrorists or terror states could do with weapons of mass destruction.
We are determined to confront threats wherever they arise. And, as a
last resort, we must be willing to use military force. We are doing
everything we can to avoid war in Iraq. But if Saddam Hussein does not
disarm peacefully, he will be disarmed by force.
Across the world, and in every part of America, people of goodwill
are hoping and praying for peace. Our goal is peace -- for our own
nation, for our friends, for our allies and for all the peoples of the
Middle East. People of goodwill must also recognize that allowing a
dangerous dictator to defy the world and build an arsenal for conquest
and mass murder is not peace at all; it is pretense. The cause of
peace will be advanced only when the terrorists lose a wealthy patron
and protector, and when the dictator is fully and finally disarmed.
Thank you for listening.
END
|