Bush does discuss a grave threat to peace, albeit not
an "imminent threat". In fact the wosrt Bush does is to
call this threat "significant". Big difference IMO.
President Bush Outlines Iraqi Threat
Remarks by the President on Iraq
October 7, 2002
whitehouse.gov
....."We agree that the Iraqi dictator must not be permitted to threaten America and the world with horrible poisons and diseases and gases and atomic weapons. Since we all agree on this goal, the issues is : how can we best achieve it?
Many Americans have raised legitimate questions: about the nature of the threat; about the urgency of action -- why be concerned now; about the link between Iraq developing weapons of terror, and the wider war on terror....."
"....While there are many dangers in the world, the threat from Iraq stands alone -- because it gathers the most serious dangers of our age in one place....."
<font size=4>...."Some ask how urgent this danger is to America and the world. The danger is already significant, and it only grows worse with time. If we know Saddam Hussein has dangerous weapons today -- and we do -- does it make any sense for the world to wait to confront him as he grows even stronger and develops even more dangerous weapons?">font size=3>
...."And that is the source of our urgent concern about Saddam Hussein's links to international terrorist groups...."
...."Some have argued that confronting the threat from Iraq could detract from the war against terror. To the contrary; confronting the threat posed by Iraq is crucial to winning the war on terror....."
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...."Knowing these realities, America must not ignore the threat gathering against us. Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof -- the smoking gun --....."<font size=4>
...."Understanding the threats of our time, knowing the designs and deceptions of the Iraqi regime, we have every reason to assume the worst, and we have an urgent duty to prevent the worst from occurring...."
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...."I hope this will not require military action, but it may. And military conflict could be difficult..... If we have to act, we will take every precaution that is possible. We will plan carefully; we will act with the full power of the United States military; we will act with allies at our side, and we will prevail."<font size=4>
...."The attacks of September the 11th showed our country that vast oceans no longer protect us from danger. Before that tragic date, we had only hints of al Qaeda's plans and designs. Today in Iraq, we see a threat whose outlines are far more clearly defined, and whose consequences could be far more deadly. Saddam Hussein's actions have put us on notice, and there is no refuge from our responsibilities....." |
