Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, August 22, 2002
Bush Says He Continues to Seek Consultations on Iraq
US President George W. Bush said Wednesday that he would continue to seek consultations with US allies and Congress before making a final decision on whether to take military actions against Iraq.
US President George W. Bush said Wednesday that he would continue to seek consultations with US allies and Congress before making a final decision on whether to take military actions against Iraq.
"We take all threats seriously, and we will continue to consult with our friends and allies," Bush told reporters in Crawford, Texas, where he is on a month-long working vacation.
"How we achieve that is a matter of consultation and deliberation," Bush said, responding to a question about his decision on Iraq.
"I'm a patient man," the US president said. "We will look at all options and we will consider all technologies available to us, and diplomacy and intelligence."
He noted that his administration agrees that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is a "threat" and a regime change in Iraq "is in the interest of the world."
Bush made the remarks after a meeting with Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers to discuss future strategy of the US military.
Bush said that the subject of Iraq did not come up at the meeting held at his private ranch in Crawford.