Bush Lays Down Tough Path for Iraq to Avoid WarOct 16, 2002
By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush said on Wednesday the only way Iraq can avoid war is to completely surrender its suspected weapons of mass destruction, as he signed a congressional resolution granting him power to use military force if Baghdad refuses to disarm.
"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 the congressional resolution, which 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.
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.
Bush also met Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss U.S. concerns that Israel might retaliate should Baghdad attack it in response to any U.S.-led assault on Iraq. Neither side divulged details of the talks.
Answering questions from reporters, Bush said he was not growing impatient that the United States had yet to convince the United Nations Security Council to approve a tough new resolution against Iraq.
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.
U.S. PATIENCE WEARING THIN?
"There are differing opinions on members of the Security Council. And we've got to work hard to reach a consensus," said Bush, who reserves the right to launch action against Iraq if the United Nations does not act.
But while Bush was publicly expressing patience, other U.S. officials were clearly growing tired of the ongoing debate.
"Patience is not going to last forever on this," a State Department official said.
Another Bush administration official said France was being given "one last shot" to come closer to the U.S. side. "We will have one resolution that gives us the authority or we will not have any," this official said.
Meanwhile, U.S. deputy defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz, a leading U.S. hawk, dismissed criticism of military action against Iraq, asserting it would be better for Saddam's demise to occur "on the world's terms, not Saddam's."
In a speech, Wolfowitz made a vigorous case for U.S. action and insisted Washington "would not be hamstrung by the waverings of the weak or those (countries) who still hope to seek favors from the Baghdad regime."
In his remarks at the signing ceremony, Bush laid down some tough demands for Iraq to fulfill to avoid conflict, even as Baghdad tries to negotiate the terms of resumed U.N. weapons inspections. Chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix said on 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.
"ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES"
"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.
He also said Iraq must allow witnesses to its "illegal activities" to be interviewed outside of the country and be allowed to bring their families with them to avoid retribution from Saddam.
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.
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.
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