President
George Bush Discusses Iraq in National Press Conference, March 6, 2003
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. I'm pleased to take your questions tonight, and
to discuss with the American people the serious matters facing our country and
the world.
This has been an important week on two fronts on our war against terror.
First, thanks to the hard work of American and Pakistani officials, we captured
the mastermind of the September the 11th attacks against our nation. Khalid
Sheikh Mohammed conceived and planned the hijackings and directed the actions of
the hijackers. We believe his capture will further disrupt the terror network
and their planning for additional attacks.
Second, we have arrived at an important moment in confronting the threat
posed to our nation and to peace by Saddam Hussein and his weapons of terror. In
New York tomorrow, the United Nations Security Council will receive an update
from the chief weapons inspector. The world needs him to answer a single
question: Has the Iraqi regime fully and unconditionally disarmed, as required
by Resolution 1441, or has it not?
Iraq's dictator has made a public show of producing and destroying a few
missiles -- missiles that violate the restrictions set out more than 10 years
ago. 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 hide biological and chemical agents to avoid
detection by inspectors. In some cases, these materials have been moved to
different locations every 12 to 24 hours, or placed in vehicles that are in
residential neighborhoods.
We know from multiple intelligence sources that Iraqi weapons scientists
continue to be threatened with harm should they cooperate with U.N. inspectors.
Scientists are required by Iraqi intelligence to wear concealed recording
devices during interviews, and hotels where interviews take place are bugged by
the regime.
These are not the actions of a regime that is disarming. These are the
actions of a regime engaged in a willful charade. These are the actions of a
regime that systematically and deliberately is defying the world. If the Iraqi
regime were disarming, we would know it, because we would see it. Iraq's weapons
would be presented to inspectors, and the world would witness their destruction.
Instead, with the world demanding disarmament, and more than 200,000 troops
positioned near his country, Saddam Hussein's response is to produce a few
weapons for show, while he hides the rest and builds even more.
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. Token
gestures are not acceptable. The only acceptable outcome is the one already
defined by a unanimous vote of the Security Council -- total disarmament.
Great Britain, Spain, and the United States have introduced a new resolution
stating that Iraq has failed to meet the requirements of Resolution 1441. Saddam
Hussein is not disarming. This is a fact. It cannot be denied.
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 -- terrorists who would willingly use weapons of mass destruction
against America and other peace-loving countries. Saddam Hussein and his weapons
are a direct threat to this country, to our people, and to all free people.
If the world fails to confront the threat posed by the Iraqi regime,
refusing to use force, even as a last resort, free nations would assume immense
and unacceptable risks. The attacks of September the 11th, 2001 showed what the
enemies of America did with four airplanes. We will not wait to see what
terrorists or terrorist states could do with weapons of mass destruction.
We are determined to confront threats wherever they arise. I will not leave
the American people at the mercy of the Iraqi dictator and his weapons.
In the event of conflict, America also accepts our responsibility to protect
innocent lives in every way possible. We'll bring food and medicine to the Iraqi
people. We'll help that nation to build a just government, after decades of
brutal dictatorship. The form and leadership of that government is for the Iraqi
people to choose. Anything they choose will be better than the misery and
torture and murder they have known under Saddam Hussein.
Across the world and in every part of America, people of goodwill are hoping
and praying for peace. Our goal is peace -- for our nation, for our friends and
allies, for the people of the Middle East. People of goodwill must also
recognize that allowing a dangerous dictator to defy the world and harbor
weapons of mass murder and terror 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.
Tonight I thank the men and women of our armed services and their families.
I know their deployment so far from home is causing hardship for many military
families. Our nation is deeply grateful to all who serve in uniform. We
appreciate your commitment, your idealism, and your sacrifice. We support you,
and we know that if peace must be defended, you are ready.
Ron Fournier.
Q Let me see if I can further -- if you could further define what you just
called this important moment we're in, since you've made it clear just now that
you don't think Saddam has disarmed, and we have a quarter million troops in the
Persian Gulf, and now that you've called on the world to be ready to use force
as a last resort. Are we just days away from the point of which you decide
whether or not we go to war? And what harm would it do to give Saddam a final
ultimatum? A two- or three-day deadline to disarm or face force?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we're still in the final stages of diplomacy. I'm
spending a lot of time on the phone, talking to fellow leaders about the need
for the United Nations Security Council to state the facts, which is Saddam
Hussein hasn't disarmed. Fourteen forty-one, the Security Council resolution
passed unanimously last fall, said clearly that Saddam Hussein has one last
chance to disarm. He hasn't disarmed. And so we're working with Security Council
members to resolve this issue at the Security Council.
This is not only an important moment for the security of our nation, I
believe it's an important moment for the Security Council, itself. And the
reason I say that is because this issue has been before the Security Council --
the issue of disarmament of Iraq -- for 12 long years. And the fundamental
question facing the Security Council is, will its words mean anything? When the
Security Council speaks, will the words have merit and weight?
I think it's important for those words to have merit and weight, because I
understand that in order to win the war against terror there must be a united
effort to do so; we must work together to defeat terror.
Iraq is a part of the war on terror. Iraq is a country that has got
terrorist ties. It's a country with wealth. It's a country that trains
terrorists, a country that could arm terrorists. And our fellow Americans must
understand in this new war against terror, that we not only must chase down al
Qaeda terrorists, we must deal with weapons of mass destruction, as well.
That's what the United Nations Security Council has been talking about for
12 long years. It's now time for this issue to come to a head at the Security
Council, and it will. As far as ultimatums and all the speculation about what
may or may not happen, after next week, we'll just wait and see.
Steve.
Q Are we days away?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we're days away from resolving this issue at the
Security Council.
Q Thank you. Another hot spot is North Korea. If North Korea restarts their
plutonium plant, will that change your thinking about how to handle this crisis,
or are you resigned to North Korea becoming a nuclear power?
THE PRESIDENT: This is a regional issue. I say a regional issue because
there's a lot of countries that have got a direct stake into whether or not
North Korea has nuclear weapons. We've got a stake as to whether North Korea has
a nuclear weapon. China clearly has a stake as to whether or not North Korea has
a nuclear weapon. South Korea, of course, has a stake. Japan has got a
significant stake as to whether or not North Korea has a nuclear weapon. Russia
has a stake.
So, therefore, I think the best way to deal with this is in multilateral
fashion, by convincing those nations they must stand up to their responsibility,
along with the United States, to convince Kim Jong-il that the development of a
nuclear arsenal is not in his nation's interest; and that should he want help in
easing the suffering of the North Korean people, the best way to achieve that
help is to not proceed forward.
We've tried bilateral negotiations with North Korea. My predecessor, in a
good-faith effort, entered into a framework agreement. The United States honored
its side of the agreement; North Korea didn't. While we felt the agreement was
in force, North Korea was enriching uranium.
In my judgment, the best way to deal with North Korea is convince parties to
assume their responsibility. I was heartened by the fact that Jiang Zemin, when
he came to Crawford, Texas, made it very clear to me and publicly, as well, that
a nuclear weapons-free peninsula was in China's interest. And so we're working
with China and the other nations I mentioned to bring a multilateral pressure
and to convince Kim Jong-il that the development of a nuclear arsenal is not in
his interests.
Dick.
Q Mr. President, you have, and your top advisors -- notably, Secretary of
State Powell -- have repeatedly said that we have shared with our allies all the
current, up-to-date intelligence information that proves the imminence of the
threat we face from Saddam Hussein, and that they have been sharing their
intelligence with us, as well. If all these nations, all of them our normal
allies, have access to the same intelligence information, why is it that they
are reluctant to think that the threat is so real, so imminent that we need to
move to the brink of war now?
And in relation to that, today, the British Foreign Minister, Jack Straw,
suggested at the U.N. that it might be time to look at amending the resolution,
perhaps with an eye towards a timetable like that proposed by the Canadians some
two weeks ago, that would set a firm deadline to give Saddam Hussein a little
bit of time to come clean. And also, obviously, that would give you a little bit
of a chance to build more support within the members of the Security Council. Is
that something that the governments should be pursuing at the U.N. right now?
THE PRESIDENT: We, of course, are consulting with our allies at the United
Nations. But I meant what I said, this is the last phase of diplomacy. A little
bit more time? Saddam Hussein has had 12 years to disarm. He is deceiving
people. This is what's important for our fellow citizens to realize; that if he
really intended to disarm, like the world has asked him to do, we would know
whether he was disarming. He's trying to buy time. I can understand why -- he's
been successful with these tactics for 12 years.
Saddam Hussein is a threat to our nation. September the 11th changed the
strategic thinking, at least, as far as I was concerned, for how to protect our
country. My job is to protect the American people. It used to be that we could
think that you could contain a person like Saddam Hussein, that oceans would
protect us from his type of terror. September the 11th should say to the
American people that we're now a battlefield, that weapons of mass destruction
in the hands of a terrorist organization could be deployed here at home.
So, therefore, I think the threat is real. And so do a lot of other people
in my government. And since I believe the threat is real, and since my most
important job is to protect the security of the American people, that's
precisely what we'll do.
Our demands are that Saddam Hussein disarm. We hope he does. We have worked
with the international community to convince him to disarm. If he doesn't disarm,
we'll disarm him.
You asked about sharing of intelligence, and I appreciate that, because we
do share a lot of intelligence with nations which may or may not agree with us
in the Security Council as to how to deal with Saddam Hussein and his threats.
We have got roughly 90 countries engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom, chasing
down the terrorists.
We do communicate a lot, and we will continue to communicate a lot. We must
communicate. We must share intelligence; we must share -- we must cut off money
together; we must smoke these al Qaeda types out one at a time. It's in our
national interest, as well, that we deal with Saddam Hussein.
But America is not alone in this sentiment. There are a lot of countries who
fully understand the threat of Saddam Hussein. A lot of countries realize that
the credibility of the Security Council is at stake -- a lot of countries, like
America, who hope that he would have disarmed, and a lot of countries which
realize that it may require force -- may require force -- to disarm him.
Jim Angle.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Sir, if you haven't already made the choice to
go to war, can you tell us what you are waiting to hear or see before you do
make that decision? And if I may, during the recent demonstrations, many of the
protestors suggested that the U.S. was a threat to peace, which prompted you to
wonder out loud why they didn't see Saddam Hussein as a threat to peace. I
wonder why you think so many people around the world take a different view of
the threat that Saddam Hussein poses than you and your allies.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first, I -- I appreciate societies in which people can
express their opinion. That society -- free speech stands in stark contrast to
Iraq.
Secondly, I've seen all kinds of protests since I've been the President. I
remember the protests against trade. A lot of people didn't feel like free trade
was good for the world. I completely disagree. I think free trade is good for
both wealthy and impoverished nations. But that didn't change my opinion about
trade. As a matter of fact, I went to the Congress to get trade promotion
authority out.
I recognize there are people who -- who don't like war. I don't like war. I
wish that Saddam Hussein had listened to the demands of the world and disarmed.
That was my hope. That's why I first went to the United Nations to begin with,
on September the 12th, 2002, to address this issue as forthrightly as I knew how.
That's why, months later, we went to the Security Council to get another
resolution, called 1441, which was unanimously approved by the Security Council,
demanding that Saddam Hussein disarm.
I'm hopeful that he does disarm. But, in the name of peace and the security
of our people, if he won't do so voluntarily, we will disarm him. And other
nations will join him -- join us in disarming him.
And that creates a certain sense of anxiety; I understand that. Nobody likes
war. The only thing I can do is assure the loved ones of those who wear our
uniform that if we have to go to war, if war is upon us because Saddam Hussein
has made that choice, we will have the best equipment available for our troops,
the best plan available for victory, and we will respect innocent life in Iraq.
The risk of doing nothing, the risk of hoping that Saddam Hussein changes
his mind and becomes a gentle soul, the risk that somehow -- that inaction will
make the world safer, is a risk I'm not willing to take for the American people.
We'll be there in a minute. King, John King. This is a scripted -- (laughter.)
Q Thank you, Mr. President. How would -- sir, how would you answer your
critics who say that they think this is somehow personal? As Senator Kennedy put
it tonight, he said your fixation with Saddam Hussein is making the world a more
dangerous place. And as you prepare the American people for the possibility of
military conflict, could you share with us any of the scenarios your advisors
have shared with you about worse-case scenarios, in terms of the potential cost
of American lives, the potential cost to the American economy, and the potential
risks of retaliatory terrorist strikes here at home?
THE PRESIDENT: My job is to protect America, and that is exactly what I'm
going to do. People can ascribe all kinds of intentions. I swore to protect and
defend the Constitution; that's what I swore to do. I put my hand on the Bible
and took that oath, and that's exactly what I am going to do.
I believe Saddam Hussein is a threat to the American people. I believe he's
a threat to the neighborhood in which he lives. And I've got a good evidence to
believe that. He has weapons of mass destruction, and he has used weapons of
mass destruction, in his neighborhood and on his own people. He's invaded
countries in his neighborhood. He tortures his own people. He's a murderer. He
has trained and financed al Qaeda-type organizations before, al Qaeda and other
terrorist organizations. I take the threat seriously, and I'll deal with the
threat. I hope it can be done peacefully.
The rest of your six-point question?
Q The potential price in terms of lives and the economy, terrorism.
THE PRESIDENT: The price of doing nothing exceeds the price of taking action,
if we have to. We'll do everything we can to minimize the loss of life. The
price of the attacks on America, the cost of the attacks on America on September
the 11th were enormous. They were significant. And I am not willing to take that
chance again, John.
Terry Moran.
Q Thank you, sir. May I follow up on Jim Angle's question? In the past
several weeks, your policy on Iraq has generated opposition from the governments
of France, Russia, China, Germany, Turkey, the Arab League and many other
countries, opened a rift at NATO and at the U.N., and drawn millions of ordinary
citizens around the world into the streets in anti-war protests. May I ask, what
went wrong that so many governments and people around the world now not only
disagree with you very strongly, but see the U.S. under your leadership as an
arrogant power?
THE PRESIDENT: I think if you remember back prior to the resolution coming
out of the United Nations last fall, I suspect you might have asked a question
along those lines -- how come you can't get anybody to support your resolution.
If I remember correctly, there was a lot of doubt as to whether or not we were
even going to get any votes, much -- well, we'd get our own, of course. And the
vote came out 15 to nothing, Terry. And I think you'll see when it's all said
and done, if we have to use force, a lot of nations will be with us.
You clearly named some that -- France and Germany expressed their opinions.
We have a disagreement over how best to deal with Saddam Hussein. I understand
that. Having said that, they're still our friends and we will deal with them as
friends. We've got a lot of common interests. Our transatlantic relationships
are very important. While they may disagree with how we deal with Saddam Hussein
and his weapons of mass destruction, there's no disagreement when it came time
to vote on 1441, at least as far as France was concerned. They joined us. They
said Saddam Hussein has one last chance of disarming. If they think more time
will cause him to disarm, I disagree with that.
He's a master at deception. He has no intention of disarming -- otherwise,
we would have known. There's a lot of talk about inspectors. It really would
have taken a handful of inspectors to determine whether he was disarming -- they
could have showed up at a parking lot and he could have brought his weapons and
destroyed them. That's not what he chose to do.
Secondly, I make my decisions based upon the oath I took, the one I just
described to you. I believe Saddam Hussein is a threat -- is a threat to the
American people. He's a threat to people in his neighborhood. He's also a threat
to the Iraqi people.
One of the things we love in America is freedom. If I may, I'd like to
remind you what I said at the State of the Union: liberty is not America's gift
to the world, it is God's gift to each and every person. And that's what I
believe. I believe that when we see totalitarianism, that we must deal with it.
We don't have to do it always militarily. But this is a unique circumstance,
because of 12 years of denial and defiance, because of terrorist connections,
because of past history.
I'm convinced that a liberated Iraq will be -- will be important for that
troubled part of the world. The Iraqi people are plenty capable of governing
themselves. Iraq is a sophisticated society. Iraq's got money. Iraq will provide
a place where people can see that the Shia and the Sunni and the Kurds can get
along in a federation. Iraq will serve as a catalyst for change, positive change.
So there's a lot more at stake than just American security, and the security
of people close by Saddam Hussein. Freedom is at stake, as well, and I take that
very seriously.
Gregory.
Q Mr. President, good evening. If you order war, can any military operation
be considered a success if the United States does not capture Saddam Hussein, as
you once said, dead or alive?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, 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. And
replacing this cancer inside of Iraq will be a government that represents the
rights of all the people, a government which represents the voices of the Shia
and Sunni and the Kurds.
We care about the suffering of the Iraqi people. I mentioned in my opening
comments that there's a lot of food ready to go in. There's something like
55,000 oil-for-food distribution points in Iraq. We know where they are. We
fully intend to make sure that they're -- got ample food. We know where their
hospitals are; we want to make sure they've got ample medical supplies. The life
of the Iraqi citizen is going to dramatically improve.
Q Sir, I'm sorry, is success contingent upon capturing or killing Saddam
Hussein, in your mind?
THE PRESIDENT: We will be changing the regime of Iraq, for the good of the
Iraqi people.
Bill Plante.
Q Mr. President, to a lot of people, it seems that war is probably
inevitable, because many people doubt -- most people, I would guess -- that
Saddam Hussein will ever do what we are demanding that he do, which is disarm.
And if war is inevitable, there are a lot of people in this country -- as much
as half, by polling standards -- who agree that he should be disarmed, who
listen to you say that you have the evidence, but who feel they haven't seen it,
and who still wonder why blood has to be shed if he hasn't attacked us.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, Bill, if they believe he should be disarmed, and he's
not going to disarm, there's only one way to disarm him. And that happens to be
my last choice -- the use of force.
Secondly, the American people know that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass
destruction. By the way, he declared he didn't have any -- 1441 insisted that he
have a complete declaration of his weapons; he said he didn't have any weapons.
Secondly, he's used these weapons before. I mean, this is -- we're not
speculating about the nature of the man. We know the nature of the man.
Colin Powell, in an eloquent address to the United Nations, described some
of the information we were at liberty of talking about. He mentioned a man named
Al Zarqawi, who was in charge of the poison network. He's a man who was wounded
in Afghanistan, received aid in Baghdad, ordered the killing of a U.S. citizen,
USAID employee, was harbored in Iraq. There is a poison plant in Northeast Iraq.
To assume that Saddam Hussein knew none of this was going on is not to really
understand the nature of the Iraqi society.
There's a lot of facts which make it clear to me and many others that Saddam
is a threat. And we're not going to wait until he does attack. We're not going
to hope that he changes his attitude. We're not going to assume that he's a
different kind of person than he has been.
So, in the name of security and peace, if we have to -- if we have to --
we'll disarm him. I hope he disarms. Or, perhaps, I hope he leaves the country.
I hear a lot of talk from different nations around where Saddam Hussein might be
exiled. That would be fine with me -- just so long as Iraq disarms after he's
exiled.
Let's see here. Elizabeth.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. As you said, the Security Council faces a vote
next week on a resolution implicitly authorizing an attack on Iraq. Will you
call for a vote on that resolution, even if you aren't sure you have the vote?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first, I don't think -- it basically says that he's in
defiance of 1441. That's what the resolution says. And it's hard to believe
anybody is saying he isn't in defiance of 1441, because 1441 said he must disarm.
And, yes, we'll call for a vote.
Q No matter what?
THE PRESIDENT: No matter what the whip count is, we're calling for the vote.
We want to see people stand up and say what their opinion is about Saddam
Hussein and the utility of the United Nations Security Council. And so, you bet.
It's time for people to show their cards, to let the world know where they stand
when it comes to Saddam.
Mark Knoller.
Q Mr. President, are you worried that the United States might be viewed as
defiant of the United Nations if you went ahead with military action without
specific and explicit authorization from the U.N.?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I'm not worried about that. As a matter of fact, it's
hard to say the United States is defiant about the United Nations, when I was
the person that took the issue to the United Nations, September the 12th, 2002.
We've been working with the United Nations. We've been working through the
United Nations.
Secondly, I'm confident the American people understand that when it comes to
our security, if we need to act, we will act, and we really don't need United
Nations approval to do so. I want to work -- I want the United Nations to be
effective. It's important for it to be a robust, capable body. It's important
for it's words to mean what they say, and as we head into the 21st century,
Mark, when it comes to our security, we really don't need anybody's permission.
Bill.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. Even though our military can certainly prevail
without a northern front, isn't Turkey making it at least slightly more
challenging for us, and therefore, at least slightly more likely that American
lives will be lost? And if they don't reverse course, would you stop backing
their entry into the European Union?
THE PRESIDENT: The answer to your second question is, I support Turkey going
into the E.U. Turkey's a friend. They're a NATO ally. We will continue to work
with Turkey. We've got contingencies in place that, should our troops not come
through Turkey -- not be allowed to come through Turkey. And, no, that won't
cause any more hardship for our troops; I'm confident of that.
April. Did you have a question, or did I call upon you cold?
Q Oh, I have a question. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Okay. I'm sure you do have a question.
Q Mr. President, as the nation is at odds over war, with many organizations
like the Congressional Black Caucus pushing for continued diplomacy through the
U.N., how is your faith guiding you? And what should you tell America -- well,
what should America do, collectively, as you instructed before 9/11? Should it
be "pray?" Because you're saying, let's continue the war on terror.
THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate that question a lot. First, for those who urge
more diplomacy, I would simply say that diplomacy hasn't worked. We've tried
diplomacy for 12 years. Saddam Hussein hasn't disarmed, he's armed.
And we live in a dangerous world. We live in new circumstances in our
country. And I hope people remember the -- I know they remember the tragedy of
September the 11th, but I hope they understand the lesson of September the 11th.
The lesson is, is that we're vulnerable to attack, wherever it may occur, and we
must take threats which gather overseas very seriously. We don't have to deal
with them all militarily. But we must deal with them. And in the case of Iraq,
it is now time for him to disarm. For the sake of peace, if we have to use our
troops, we will.
My faith sustains me because I pray daily. I pray for guidance and wisdom
and strength. If we were to commit our troops -- if we were to commit our troops
-- I would pray for their safety, and I would pray for the safety of innocent
Iraqi lives, as well.
One thing that's really great about our country, April, is there are
thousands of people who pray for me that I'll never see and be able to thank.
But it's a humbling experience to think that people I will never have met have
lifted me and my family up in prayer. And for that I'm grateful. That's -- it's
been -- it's been a comforting feeling to know that is true. I pray for peace,
April. I pray for peace.
Hutch.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. As you know, not everyone shares your optimistic
vision of how this might play out. Do you ever worry, maybe in the wee, small
hours, that you might be wrong and they might be right in thinking that this
could lead to more terrorism, more anti-American sentiment, more instability in
the Middle East?
THE PRESIDENT: Hutch, I think, first of all, it's hard to envision more
terror on America than September the 11th, 2001. We did nothing to provoke that
terrorist attack. It came upon us because there's an enemy which hates America.
They hate what we stand for. We love freedom and we're not changing. And,
therefore, so long as there's a terrorist network like al Qaeda, and others
willing to fund them, finance them, equip them -- we're at war.
And so I -- you know, obviously, I've thought long and hard about the use of
troops. I think about it all the time. It is my responsibility to commit the
troops. I believe we'll prevail -- I know we'll prevail. And out of that
disarmament of Saddam will come a better world, particularly for the people who
live in Iraq.
This is a society, Ron, who -- which has been decimated by his murderous
ways, his torture. He doesn't allow dissent. He doesn't believe in the values we
believe in. I believe this society, the Iraqi society can develop in a much
better way. I think of the risks, calculated the cost of
inaction versus the cost of action. And I'm firmly convinced, if we have to,
we will act, in the name of peace and in the name of freedom.
Ann.
Q Mr. President, if you decide to go ahead with military action, there are
inspectors on the ground in Baghdad. Will you give them time to leave the
country, or the humanitarian workers on the ground or the journalists? Will you
be able to do that, and still mount an effective attack on Iraq?
THE PRESIDENT: Of course. We will give people a chance to leave. And we
don't want anybody in harm's way who shouldn't be in harm's way. The journalists
who are there should leave. If you're going, and we start action, leave. The
inspectors -- we don't want people in harm's way. And our intention -- we have
no quarrel with anybody other than Saddam and his group of killers who have
destroyed a society. And we will do everything we can, as I mentioned -- and I
mean this -- to protect innocent life.
I've not made up our mind about military action. Hopefully, this can be done
peacefully. Hopefully, that as a result of the pressure that we have placed --
and others have placed -- that Saddam will disarm and/or leave the country.
Ed.
Q Mr. President, good evening. Sir, you've talked a lot about trusting the
American people when it comes to making decisions about their own lives, about
how to spend their own money. When it comes to the financial costs of the war,
sir, it would seem that the administration, surely, has costed out various
scenarios. If that's the case, why not present some of them to the American
people so they know what to expect, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: Ed, we will. We'll present it in the form of a supplemental
to the spenders. We don't get to spend the money, as you know. We have to
request the expenditure of money from the Congress, and, at the appropriate
time, we'll request a supplemental. We're obviously analyzing all aspects. We
hope we don't go to war; but if we should, we will present a supplemental.
But I want to remind -- remind you what I said before. There is a huge cost
when we get attacked. There is a significant cost to our society -- first of
all, there is the cost of lives. It's an immeasurable cost -- 3,000 people died.
This is a significant cost to our economy. Opportunity loss is an immeasurable
cost, besides the cost of repairing buildings, and cost to our airlines. And so,
the cost of an attack is significant.
If I thought we were safe from attack, I would be thinking differently. But
I see a gathering threat. I mean, this is a true, real threat to America. And,
therefore, we will deal with it. And at the appropriate time, Ed, we will ask
for a supplemental. And that will be the moment where you and others will be
able to recognize what we think the dollar cost of a conflict will be.
You know, the benefits of such a -- of such a effort, if, in fact, we go
forward and are successful, are also immeasurable. How do you measure the
benefit of freedom in Iraq? I guess, if you're an Iraqi citizen you can measure
it by being able to express your mind and vote. How do you measure the
consequence of taking a dictator out of -- out of power who has tried to invade
Kuwait? Or somebody who may some day decide to lob a weapon of mass destruction
on Israel -- how would you weigh the cost of that? Those are immeasurable costs.
And I weigh those very seriously, Ed. In terms of the dollar amount, well, we'll
let you know here pretty soon.
George Condin.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. If I can follow on Steve's question, on North
Korea. Do you believe it is essential for the security of the United States and
its allies that North Korea be prevented from developing nuclear weapons? And
are you in any way growing frustrated with the pace of the diplomacy there?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think it's -- I think it's an issue. Obviously, I'm
concerned about North Korea developing nuclear weapons, not only for their own
use, but for -- perhaps they might choose to proliferate them, sell them. They
may end up in the hands of dictators, people who are not afraid of using weapons
of mass destruction, people who try to impose their will on the world or
blackmail free nations. I'm concerned about it.
We are working hard to bring a diplomatic solution. And we've made some
progress. After all, the IAEA asked that the Security Council take up the North
Korean issue. It's now in the Security Council. Constantly talking with the
Chinese and the Russians and the Japanese and the South Koreans. Colin Powell
just went overseas and spent some time in China, went to the inauguration of
President Roh in South Korea; spent time in China. We're working the issue hard,
and I'm optimistic that we'll come up with a diplomatic solution. I certainly
hope so.
Bob.
Q Thank you, sir. Mr. President, millions of Americans can recall a time
when leaders from both parties set this country on a mission of regime change in
Vietnam. Fifty thousand Americans died. The regime is still there in Hanoi, and
it hasn't harmed or threatened a single American in the 30 years since the war
ended. What can you say tonight, sir, to the sons and the daughters of the
Americans who served in Vietnam to assure them that you will not lead this
country down a similar path in Iraq?
THE PRESIDENT: That's a great question. Our mission is clear in Iraq. Should
we have to go in, our mission is very clear: disarmament. And in order to disarm,
it would mean regime change. I'm confident we'll be able to achieve that
objective, in a way that minimizes the loss of life. No doubt there's risks in
any military operation; I know that. But it's very clear what we intend to do.
And our mission won't change. Our mission is precisely what I just stated. We
have got a plan that will achieve that mission, should we need to send forces
in.
Last question. Let's see who needs one. Jean.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. In the coming days, the American people are
going to hear a lot of debate about this British proposal of a possible deadline
being added to the resolution, or not. And I know you don't want to tip your
hand -- this is a great diplomatic moment -- but from the administration's
perspective and your own perspective, can you share for the American public what
you view as the pros and cons associated with that proposal?
THE PRESIDENT: You're right, I'm not going to tip my hand. (Laughter.)
Q But can you help us sort out the --
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you for -- thank you. Anything that's debated must have
resolution to this issue. It makes no sense to allow this issue to continue on
and on, in the hopes that Saddam Hussein disarms. The whole purpose of the
debate is for Saddam to disarm. We gave him a chance. As a matter of fact, we
gave him 12 years of chances. But, recently, we gave him a chance, starting last
fall. And it said, last chance to disarm. The resolution said that. And had he
chosen to do so, it would be evident that he's disarmed.
So more time, more inspectors, more process, in our judgment, is not going
to affect the peace of the world. So whatever is resolved is going to have some
finality to it, so that Saddam Hussein will take us seriously.
I want to remind you that it's his choice to make as to whether or not we go
to war. It's Saddam's choice. He's the person that can make the choice of war
and peace. Thus far, he's made the wrong choice. If we have to, for the sake of
the security of the American people, for the sake of peace in the world, and for
freedom to the Iraqi people, we will disarm Saddam Hussein. And by we, it's more
than America. A lot of nations will join us.
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