Bush Calls Iraq, Iran, DPRK Major Diplomatic Challenges

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, January 29, 2003

Bush Calls Iraq, Iran, DPRK Major Diplomatic Challenges

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

In his second State of the Union address on Tuesday, US President George W. Bush again listed Iraq, Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as major challenges to US diplomacy which warrant different approaches to deal with.

The greatest threat to the United States and the world comes from "outlaw regimes" that are seeking nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, Bush said while speaking to a joint session of the US Congress about international challenges facing the country.

In his State of the Union address last year, Bush listed the three countries as an "axis of evil." Each of the three countries has urged the US to abandon its hostile policy toward them.

The international community, including the European Union (EU),said they do not agree with Washington on the policy, which has been severely criticized over the past year.

However, Bush claimed again the three countries could use weapons of mass destruction.

"These regimes could use such weapons for blackmail, terror and mass murder. They could also give or sell those weapons to their terrorist allies, who would use them without the least hesitation," Bush said.

With more and more Americans disapproving of his handling of the economy, Bush made a push for a possible war against Iraq, vowing to fight "with the full force and might" of the US military to disarm Iraq if necessary.

"This country has many challenges ... Different threats require different strategies," he said.

He toughened Washington's strong position on ousting Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, claiming that the world "must learn the lessons of the Korean Peninsula and not allow an even greater threat to rise up in Iraq."

"Almost three months ago, the United Nations Security Council gave Saddam Hussein his final chance to disarm. He has shown instead utter contempt for the United Nations and for the opinion of the world," Bush said.

He said Baghdad has so far failed to account for a large amount of biological and chemical weapons materials, including up to 25,000 liters of anthrax, 38,000 liters of botulism toxin, and 500 tons of sarin, mustard gas and VX nerve agent.

Bush said Baghdad had an advanced nuclear weapons development program in the 1990s and has failed to explain its recent efforts to seek significant quantities of uranium from Africa and purchase of high strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production.

Accusing Iraq of deceiving, Bush said intelligence sources showed that thousands of Iraqi security personnel are at work hiding documents and materials related to weapons of mass destruction from UN inspectors.

Adding a new dimension to his case against Iraq, Bush said the United States has evidence directly linking Baghdad with terrorists.

"Evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications and statements by people now in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of al Qaeda," he said.

"Secretly, and without fingerprints, he could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists or help them develop their own," Bush added.

Vowing to confront the "threats" from Iraq, Bush said the United States will ask the UN Security Council to convene on Feb. 5 to consider "the facts of Iraq's ongoing defiance."

He said US Secretary of State Colin Powell will present information and intelligence about Iraq's illegal weapons programs,its attempts to hide those weapons from inspectors and its links to terrorist groups.

But Bush stressed that the United States will move to disarm Iraq by force with allies if Baghdad refuses to disarm itself and the United Nations fails to act.

"We will consult, but let there be no misunderstanding: If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm, for the safety of our people,and for the peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him," Bush said.

Referring to the current nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula,Bush accused Pyongyang of "deceiving the world and developing" weapons of mass destruction, saying the DPRK "is using its nuclear program to incite fear and seek concessions."

"America and the world will not be blackmailed," the US president stated. But he noted that the United States is working with other countries in the region to find a peaceful solution to the DPRK nuclear issue.

He suggested that only by turning away from its nuclear ambitions, could Pyongyang find respect in the world and revive its own country.

On Iran, Bush said the United States continues to see "a government that represses its people, pursues weapons of mass destruction and supports terror."

Without being specific, he vowed that the United States supports Iranians' "aspirations to live in freedom."

However, observers say that in Bush's speech they find nothing new and different from his first State of the Union address last year, which termed Iran, Iraq and the DPRK as the "axis of evil" in the world and accused them of attempting to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Bush's remarks came one day after Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector for chemical and biological weapons, gave a report to the Security Council on Iraq's cooperation with two months of inspections. Mohamed ElBaradei, the chief inspector for atomic weapons, reported that his team has found no evidence that Iraq had tried to revive its nuclear arms program.

The address was one of the most critical for the Bush presidency so far since he is about to start his campaign for reelection in 2004. Six Democrats have declared their intention to challenge Bush in the presidential election.

The speech also came at a time when Bush's approval rating has slipped in recent polls to below 60 percent for the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Those polls showed deepening concerns among the public about his economic and foreign policies.

Questions?Comments? Click here

US Democrats Attack Bush on Economic Policy, Iraq

Bush Vows to Disarm Iraq by Force if Necessary

Beijing to Cancel 'Hotels for Hosting Foreign Visitors' ( 11 Messages)

Crazy Pursuit for Graduate Education, an Ailing Personnel System ( 2 Messages)

Chinese Experts Demand Return of Cultural Relics ( 30 Messages)

Chinese Bid Farewell to Outworn Doctrine of Egalitarianism ( 22 Messages)

Full Text of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 on Iraq ( 3 Messages)