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Bush: Saddam throwing last chance away
KENNESAW, Georgia (CNN) -- President Bush on Thursday raised the possibility that war with Iraq could be avoided but added that the United States is prepared to act "with many nations" to disarm Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Bush discussed the Iraq situation during a speech outlining his tax cut plan to supporters at a suburban Atlanta high school. "As we insist that Congress be wise with your money, we're going to make sure we spend enough to win this war," Bush said. After the applause died down, he added, "And by spending enough to win a war, we may not have a war at all." But Bush said the U.N. Security Council had given Saddam "one final chance to disarm, and he's throwing that chance away." Bush cited U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's recent presentation to the world body as proof that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction. Iraqi officials deny that they have such weapons, and chief U.N. weapons inspectors have reported they have seen no proof one way or the other. "If military force becomes necessary to disarm Iraq, this nation, joined by others, will act decisively in a just cause, and we will prevail," Bush said. Describing the use of force as "this nation's last option," the president said, "Let me tell you what's not an option: Trusting in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein is not an option. Denial and endless delay in the face of growing danger is not an option." Ridding Iraq of Saddam would allow "the oppressed people of Iraq, whose lives we care about," to live in freedom and liberty, he said. "We don't believe freedom and liberty are America's gift to the world. We believe they're the Almighty's gift to mankind." If the United States were to "liberate" the Iraqis, "they can rest assured that we will help them build a country that is disarmed and peaceful and united and free," he said. Iraq's disarmament would not only help the Iraqis but also would serve as a warning to dictators in other countries, he said. "The disarmament of Iraq will also demonstrate that free nations have the will and resolve to defend the peace," Bush said. "By defeating this threat, we will show other dictators that the path of aggression will lead to their own ruin." In an apparent allusion to widespread dissent among world leaders about a possible U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Bush said that the United States, "joined by many nations ... is committed to building a world at peace and bringing a better day."
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