Bush Discusses Action Against Iraq with US Lawmakers

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, September 19, 2002

Bush Discusses Action Against Iraq with US Lawmakers

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Calling Iraqi President Saddam Hussein a "threat to world peace," U.S. President George W. Bush said Wednesday his administration would work out a proposed congressional resolution this week authorizing him to take action against Iraq.

Speaking to reporters after a White House meeting with US congressional leaders, Bush said that they talked about a congressional resolution on Iraq and he had received a commitment to pass the resolution before the U.S. Congress's pre-election break in October.

"I told the members that within the next couple of days this administration will develop language that we think is necessary, and we look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to get a resolution passed," Bush said.

"It's an important signal for the world to see that this country is united in our resolve to deal with threats that we face," Bush told reporters.

The United States would remind the world that, by defying resolutions, the Iraqi leader has become more and more of a threat to world peace, Bush said, "The world must rise up and deal with this threat, and that's what we expect the Security Council to do."

Bush has called on the UN Security Council to pass a new resolution demanding that Iraq disarm and allow weapons inspectors to resume their work without conditions.

Wednesday's meeting came two days after Iraq made an offer to allow the return of the UN weapons inspectors "without conditions" in a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Following Iraq's sudden offer to readmit international weapons inspectors, Russia, France and the entire Arab world all expressedskepticism about the need for a new UN Security Council resolution that the United States has sought.

The head of the UN weapons inspection team met with the Iraqi delegation Tuesday in what a Baghdad official called "useful and fruitful" discussions.

However, the Bush administration rebuffed Iraq's latest efforts to avoid a war with the US, saying that its letter to accept the return of UN weapons inspectors is a "tactic that will fail."

"It's his latest ploy, his latest attempt not to be held accountable for defying the United Nations," Bush said Wednesday, "He's not going to fool anybody. We've seen him before."

US Senate Minority leader Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, said after the meeting that Bush "is going to suggest some language for us to consider and we are going to work together and try to get a resolution that will have the broadest possible support."

US Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle said: "I think we are going to work as diligently as we can before the middle of Octoberto ensure we get all that is possible done."

Daschle predicted Tuesday that US Congress would vote on the resolution "well before the election in November," but said he remains skeptical the Bush administration had proven its case that war is necessary.

Meanwhile, US Senate Democrat Richard Durbin urged the Bush administration to pay heed to Iraq's overtures, which he termed "a dramatic mark of progress."

"Wouldn't we want to give the UN the ability to start inspections, and if they fail we can consider a lot of options?" he asked, "Wouldn't we want to pursue a course of action short of war?"

Questions?Comments? Click here

Iraq Allows UN Inspectors back to Avert US War: Analysis

World Leaders Split on Iraq, US War Plans March On

>> Full Coverage

China Since 1990: Facts and Figures Tell of Rising Prosperity ( 19 Messages)

Dozens Could Have Died in Food Poisoning in Nanjing ( 13 Messages)

China Hopes to See Iraqi Issue Resolved Within UN Framework ( 29 Messages)

Survey Discloses Bad Service of Domestic Banks ( 64 Messages)

Scholar Slates Chen Shui-bian Pro-"independence" Speeches ( 10 Messages)