Bush's War Pretexts: Saddam

[Moses]

www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/index.html

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Press Briefing by Ari Fleischer 02 Feb 01
Q    Ari, a question on Iraq.  Does the $4 million authorized for use by the Iraqi opposition represent a stepped-up U.S. effort against Saddam Hussein?

FLEISCHER:  The $4 million grant to the INC that was mentioned in the article you reference was initiated and appropriated in 1999.  This was FY 2000 money intended to help the INC to gather information inside Iraq to help build a case against Iraqi leadership for crimes against humanity.  A license application was submitted to OFAC under the previous administration to spend the money inside Iraq.  And since passage of the Iraq Liberation Act in 1998, the United States has worked to try to improve the capabilities of the Iraqi opposition.  This is a further step in that process, and it is consistent with President Bush's support for the Iraqi opposition.  So this ties back to the previous legislation.

          Q    It's not a stepped-up effort, then?

 MR. FLEISCHER:  No, this is in accordance with previously passed legislation.

          Q    And what was the title of that legislation again, please?

          MR. FLEISCHER:  This was an appropriation item --

          Q    But since passage of the what act in 1998?

MR. FLEISCHER:  Appropriated in '99 -- let me refer you back to Mary Ellen for a little of the background on the legislation.  The part I'm more familiar with is the appropriated funds that passed in the Congress and was signed by the previous President.

Q    And at that appropriation were those funds appropriated for use within the national boundaries of Iraq, and this does not represent a new policy in the Bush administration?

MR. FLEISCHER:  It is consistent with the legislation previously passed and signed into law.
www.whitehouse.gov/news/briefings/20010202.html -

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President Discusses Growing Danger posed by Saddam Hussein's Regime
In his weekly radio address, President Bush said, "Today Saddam Hussein has the scientists and infrastructure for a nuclear ...
www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/09/20020914.html - 33.3KB

14 Sep 02

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A Decade of Defiance and Deception
Excerpts from the Press Briefing by Ari Fleischer October 9, 2002 (Full transcript) QUESTION: Helen's right. And I have a QUESTION: -- how much does oil have to do with the ...
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/excerpts_oct9.html -

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Ari Fleischer October 16, 2002
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/excerpts_oct16.html
QUESTION: Ari, the President said he was, quote, fully -- he wanted -- his goal was to fully and finally remove a real threat. Was he talking about weapons of mass destruction or Saddam Hussein? Or both?

MR. FLEISCHER: He's talking about both. The policy of the United States is both. We talk in the United Nations about the enforcement of the resolutions which focus on disarmament; end of hostility towards the neighbors; end of repression of minorities, which the President also spoke about. And of course, the policy of the United States is regime change. And today, given the signature by the President on the bipartisan authorization to use force it is the position of the United States now in 2002 that force is authorized in the event that Saddam Hussein does not comply.

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Saddam Hussein's Development of Weapons of Mass Destruction
In 2001, an Iraqi defector, Adnan Ihsan Saeed al-Haideri, said he had visited twenty secret facilities for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Mr. Saeed, ...
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/decade/sect3.html -
29 Apr 03

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Saddam Hussein's Refusal to Account for Gulf War Prisoners
UNSCRs 686, 687 and others require Saddam Hussein to release immediately any Gulf War prisoners and to cooperate in accounting for missing and dead Kuwaitis and ...
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/decade/sect6.html -
29 Apr 03

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Saddam Hussein's Support for International Terrorism
Iraq is one of seven countries that have been designated by the Secretary of State as state sponsors of international terrorism. UNSCR 687 prohibits Saddam Hussein from ...
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/decade/sect5.html -
29 Apr 03

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Saddam Hussein's Efforts to Circumvent Economic Sanctions
Saddam Hussein has illegally imported hundreds of millions of dollars in goods in violation of economic sanctions and outside of the UN's Oil-for-Food program. For ...
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/decade/sect8.html -
29 Apr 03

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Disarm Saddam Hussein
The gravest danger we face in the war on terror is outlaw regimes that seek and possess nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Twelve years ago, Saddam Hussein agreed to disarm all ...
www.whitehouse.gov/response/disarm.html - 23.8KB

29 Apr 03

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Saddam Hussein's Defiance of United Nations Resolutions
Saddam Hussein has repeatedly violated sixteen United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) designed to ensure that Iraq does not pose a threat to ...
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/decade/sect2.html -
29 Apr 03

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Saddam Hussein's Repression of the Iraqi People
UNSCR 688 (April 5, 1991) "condemns" Saddam Hussein's repression of the Iraqi civilian population -- "the consequences of which threaten international peace and ...
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/decade/sect4.html -
29 Apr 03

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Saddam Hussein's Refusal to Return Stolen Property
Iraq destroyed much stolen property before it could be returned, and Kuwait claims that large quantities of equipment remain unaccounted for: The UN and Kuwait say Iraq has ...
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/decade/sect7.html -

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"Iraq Home Page" : Photos SADDAM HUSSEIN'S IRAQ 1. Iraq’s government openly praised the September 11th attacks on America In the aftermath of the attacks on America that killed ...
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/reasons.html
21 Jul 04

[Moses]

January 29, 2003

Excerpts on Iraq From Grand Rapids Speech


The war on terror is not confined strictly to the al Qaeda that we're chasing. The war on terror extends beyond just a shadowy terrorist network. The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein and his willingness to terrorize himself.

Saddam Hussein has terrorized his own people. He's terrorized his own neighborhood. He is a danger not only to countries in the region, but as I explained last night, because of al Qaeda connections, because of his history, he's a danger to the American people. And we've got to deal with him. We've got to deal with him before it is too late. (Applause.)

Before September the 11th, during a period when a lot of us thought oceans would protect us forever from gathering threats far from our land, the thought of containing somebody like Saddam Hussein made sense -- so we could step back in America and say, gosh, well, don't worry, he's only a threat to somebody in the neighborhood, and we might pick or choose whether or not we're going to help in the neighborhood.

But, see, our fellow citizens must understand that September the 11th, 2001 changed the equation. It's changed the strategic outlook of this country, because we're not protected by oceans. The battlefield is here. And therefore, we must address threats today as they gather, before they become acute.

There's a reason why the world asked Saddam Hussein to disarm -- for 12 years. (Laughter.) And the reason why is because he's dangerous. He's used them. He tortures his own people. He's gassed his own people. He's attacked people in the neighborhood.

What's changed for America -- besides the fact that he's still dangerous and can create havoc with friends in the neighborhood -- is that there's now a shadowy terrorist network which he could use as a forward army, attacking his worst enemy and never leave a fingerprint behind, with deadly, deadly weapons. And that's what's changed.

We're having an honest debate in this country, and we should, about peace and how to achieve the peace. It should be clear to you now, though, that in my judgment you don't contain Saddam Hussein. You don't hope that therapy will somehow change his evil mind -- (laughter) -- that you deal with Saddam Hussein. I hope we can do this peacefully.

I went to the United Nations for a reason. One, I wanted the United Nations to be something other than an empty debating society. (Applause.) I wanted it to address this threat. By a 15-0 vote in the Security Council, they said, yes, it's a problem and he must disarm. But the fundamental question is, when. There's a lot of focus on the inspectors, and we wish them well. But the role of the inspectors is not to play hide-and-seek with Saddam Hussein in a country the size of California. There's 108 inspectors running around a country trying to stumble into something; 108 people who are being misled by a person who's made a history of fooling inspectors.

See, the role of the inspectors are not to play "gotcha." He's better at playing "gotcha," obviously -- for 12 years he's played "gotcha." The role of the inspectors are to watch Iraq disarm. That's the role of the inspectors. They're to report back and say, gosh, he's started getting rid of all his mustard gas or sarin gas. He started getting rid of these weapons of mass destruction. He's now getting rid of the biological laboratories. That's the role of the inspectors.

And it's clear he's not disarming. I'm convinced that this still can be done peacefully. I certainly hope so. The idea of committing troops is my last option, not my first. I understand the terrible price of war. I understand what it means to put somebody into combat. I know what it means to hug mothers and wives. But I've got to tell you something. I've thought long and hard about this. The risks of doing nothing, the risks of assuming the best from Saddam Hussein, it's just not a risk worth taking.

So I call upon the world to come together and insist that this dangerous man disarm. But should they choose not to continue to pressure Saddam, and should he continue to defy the world, for the sake of our peace, for the sake of the security, this country will lead a coalition of other willing nations and we will disarm Saddam Hussein. If need be, if war is brought upon us like I said last night, I want to assure you, particularly those who wear the uniform and those who have a loved one in the military, we will commit the full force and might of the United States military. And for the name of peace, we will prevail. (Applause.)

We will free people. This great, powerful nation is motivated not by power for power's sake, but because of our values. If everybody matters, if every life counts, then we should hope everybody has the great God's gift of freedom. We go into Iraq to disarm the country. We will also go in to make sure that those who are hungry are fed, those who need health care will have health care, those youngsters who need education will get education. But most of all, we will uphold our values. And the biggest value we hold dear is the value of freedom. (Applause.) As I said last night, freedom and liberty, they are not America's gifts to the world. They are God's gift to humanity. We hold that thought dear to our hearts.

This is a great nation. America is a strong nation. America is a nation full of people who are compassionate. America is a nation that is willing to serve causes greater than ourselves. There's no question we face challenges ahead of us -- challenges at home, challenges abroad. But as I said last night, history has called the right nation into action. History has called the United States into action, and we will not let history down.

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