Bush defends war in Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Bush defends war in Iraq

US President George W. Bush defended his policy of waging war in Iraq in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, despite the fact that US weapons searchers have not been able to find any of Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction that he used to build the case for war.

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US President George W. Bush defended his policy of waging war in Iraq in his State of the Union address on Jan. 20 night, despite the fact that US weapons searchers have not been able to find any of Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction that he used to build the case for war.

"We are seeking all the facts - already the Kay report identified dozens of weapons of mass destruction-related program activities and significant amounts of equipment that Iraq concealed from the United Nations," he said.

During the past several months since the fall of Baghdad, David Kay, a former UN weapons inspector heading the US search team for Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction, has found no evidence of such weapons.

Bush said some Americans, including some lawmaker, did not support the war in Iraq. Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction programs would continue if the United States failed to act, he said.

With the Saddam Hussein regime toppled, he said the world "is a better and safer place," and the hundreds of thousands of American soldiers deployed across the world "are making America more secure."

Democrats have accused the Bush administration of exaggerating the weapons threat to justify the war, and former US Treasury secretary Paul O'Neill said in a new book recently that the government began laying plans for an invasion of Iraq within days of Bush's inauguration in January 2001, eight months before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Bush vows to do what it takes to rebuild Iraq

President George W. Bush vowed on Jan. 20 that the United States will do whatever it can to rebuild a post-war Iraq, saying his country will not falter despite difficulties confronting the US-led coalition troops.

"The work of building a new Iraq is hard, and it is right," Bush said in his televised State of the Union address delivered to a joint session of US Congress.

"America has always been willing to do what it takes for what is right," Bush said.

The US president defended his policy in Iraq, saying that progresses have been made in rebuilding the oil-rich country.

"Today our coalition is working with the Iraqi Governing Council to draft a basic law, with a bill of rights. We are working with Iraqis and the United Nations to prepare for a transition to full Iraqi sovereignty by the end of June," he said.

"Month by month, Iraqis are assuming more responsibility for their own security and their own future," he added.

Bush accused Iraqi guerrillas of spreading "violence and fear" by attacking the coalition forces, saying that the United States will never be intimidated by the insurgents.

Bush cited Libya's pledge of giving up weapons of mass destruction as an example to justify US invasion of Iraq, saying that the world is changing for the better because of "American leadership and resolve."

"Last month, the leader of Libya voluntarily pledged to disclose and dismantle all of his regime's weapons of mass destruction programs, including a uranium-enrichment project for nuclear weapons," he said.

"One reason (for the Libyan decision) is clear: For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible -- and no one can now doubt the word of America," Bush said.

Bush stressed that "different threats require different strategies," indicating that the United States is also prepared to use diplomacy to settle issues wherever possible.

"Along with nations in the region, we are insisting that North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) eliminate its nuclear program," Bush said.

"America and the international community are demanding that Iran meets its commitments and not develop nuclear weapons," he added.

But the US president vowed that America is committed to preventing hostile countries from acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

Talking about the Middle East, President Bush said he will send a proposal to the Congress to double the budget for promoting "democracy" or "free elections" in the region.

"As long as the Middle East remains a place of tyranny, despair and anger, it will continue to produce men and movements that threaten the safety of America and our friends," he said.

"So America is pursuing a forward strategy of freedom in the greater Middle East. We will challenge the enemies of reform, confront the allies of terror, and expect a higher standard from our friends," Bush said.

Source: Xinhua

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