Bush consulting with Congress, allies about Iraq
WACO, Texas (AP) — President Bush said Saturday he is consulting with Congress and U.S. allies about Iraq and he branded Saddam Hussein "an enemy until proven otherwise."
President Bush speaks with reporters before a round of golf Saturday in Waco, Texas.
By Paul J. Richards, AFP
Bush reaffirmed that he has no timetable for deciding on a military strike against Iraq or "for any of our policies in regard to Iraq."
He said he spends a lot of time discussing U.S. options with his principal policy advisers; a decision may not come this year.
In Washington, Iraqi opposition leaders heard from Vice President Dick Cheney and met with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, among the Bush administration's strongest voices for consideration of military action to replace the Iraqi president with a democratic government. They also saw Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"We are very optimistic that they will do something to affect regime change," said Sharif Ali of the Iraqi National Congress, referring to U.S. officials. "We are working with them to facilitate that because ultimately the U.S. did agree with us that it was up to the Iraqi people."
The president, speaking to reporters just before a round of golf at the Ridgewood Country Club, said Saddam has "a history of tyranny. I think most people understand he is a danger."
Bush made clear, as he has done in public speeches, that he has many tools to help the United States deal with Iraq.
"And I've also said I am a deliberate person," he added. "So we're in the process of consulting not only with Congress but our friends and allies."
Asked if he believes Americans are ready for armed conflict to oust Saddam, Bush replied:
"I want people to fully understand our deep concern about this man, his regime. As I said I have no timetable. But I do believe the American people understand that weapons of mass destruction in the hands of leaders such as Saddam Hussein are very dangerous for us and our allies.
"They understand the concept of blackmail and that when we speak of making the world more safe, we do so not only in the concept of terrorist groups but of nations that have proven themselves to be bad neighbors and bad actors."
Later Saturday, Iraqi opposition leaders spent 2.50 hours at the White House complex for a video conference call with Vice President Dick Cheney, who is spending part of August at his Wyoming home, and a meeting with Rumsfeld.
"Very clearly both the vice president and the secretary indicated they would support a democratic regime in Iraq," said Ali of the London-based INC. "We discussed many broad issues, many specific issues regarding the future of Iraq and we are all agreed that the Iraqi people would play an important role in regime change."
Those leaders received assurances during a State Department meeting Friday that the United States will fulfill commitments to protect Iraqis who face possible attacks from Saddam's forces.
Bush, who is vacationing at his ranch in nearby Crawford, reminded reporters that he designated Iraq, Iran and North Korea in January as members of an "axis of evil."
Referring to Iraq, Bush said before golfing: "I described them as the axis of evil once. I describe them as the enemy until proven otherwise."
He added, "They obviously desire weapons of mass destruction and I assume that he still views us as the enemy."
"We owe it to our children's children to free the world of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of those who hate freedom."
U.S. officials in Washington recalled after Friday's meeting with the opposition leaders that Saddam used poison gas against Iraqi Kurds in 1988 and sent troops into the Kurdish areas in 1991 to put down an uprising shortly after the end of the Persian Gulf War.
In the event of any additional attacks on the Kurds, the United States would respond, said an official, who agreed to discuss the situation only on grounds of anonymity.
The U.S. officials said the Iraqis made no request for military aid or training. They said the U.S. side was struck by the conviction of each of the Iraqi leaders to fight for a democratic Iraq and for the establishment of the rule of law.
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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