Bush "Deeply Concerned" About Policies of Iraq's Saddam Hussein
(Mideast, nuclear policy, war on terror, also topics at news conference) (1080) By Wendy S. Ross Washington File White House Correspondent Washington -- President Bush says he is "deeply concerned about Iraq" and what Saddam Hussein is doing in that country, and he says the United States will deal with Saddam -- after consulting with its friends and allies. In a wide-ranging news conference at the White House March 13, Bush discussed a variety of foreign policy topics including the Middle East, his administration's nuclear posture review, and the second stage in the war on terror. Describing his concerns with Iraq, the president said, "This is a nation run by a man who is willing to kill his own people by using chemical weapons; a man who won't let inspectors into the country; a man who's obviously got something to hide. And he is a problem. And we're going to deal with him." But, he said, "the first stage is to consult with our allies and friends, and that's exactly what we're doing," He said he explains his concerns about Iraq to every world leader that comes to see him: "I explain our concerns about a nation which is not conforming to agreements that it made in the past, a nation which has gassed her people in the past, a nation which has weapons of mass destruction and apparently is not afraid to use them." Iraq is one of the topics Vice President Dick Cheney is discussing with leaders on his current trip to 11 nations in the Middle East, Bush said. Cheney is "reminding people about this danger and that we need to work in concert to confront this danger. Again, all options are on the table ... but one thing I will not allow is a nation such as Iraq to threaten our very future by developing weapons of mass destruction. They've agreed not to have those weapons. They ought to conform to their agreement, comply with their agreement," Bush said. On the fighting in the Middle East, Bush urged the Israelis and the Palestinians to adhere to the security plan put forward by U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director George Tenet and then to move to the Mitchell peace plan. "First of all, it is important to create conditions for peace in the Middle East. It's important for both sides to work hard to create the conditions of a potential settlement," he said. "Frankly, it's not helpful what the Israelis have recently done in order to create conditions for peace. I understand someone trying to defend themselves and to fight terror. But the recent actions aren't helpful." If there is to be peace in the region, people there must recognize Israel's right to exist, Bush also said. He said that when Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah indicated that that was his proposal, the United States "strongly embraced" it. Bush also noted the U.S.-sponsored resolution approved late March 12 by the United Nations Security Council that endorses a "vision of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side within secure and recognized borders." Asked about his administration's January nuclear posture review, revealed this week by an article in the Los Angeles Times, Bush said, "The nuclear review is not new. It's gone on for previous administrations. Secondly, the reason we have a nuclear arsenal that I hope is modern, upgraded and can work is to deter any attack on America. The reason one has a nuclear arsenal is to serve as a deterrence." The president did not address specifically the question of whether the United States is developing weapons of low nuclear yield, but he made it clear that "all options are on the table." He also made clear that his administration is committed to reducing the number of nuclear warheads, noting that he had talked about this March 12 with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov. Bush said he is "committed to reducing the amount of nuclear weaponry and reducing the number of nuclear warheads. I think it's the right policy for America, and I know we can continue to do so and still keep a deterrence." He said he would like to sign a document with Russia on the new strategic arrangement when he visits that country in May. "I'd like to sign a document in Russia when I'm there ... I also agree with [Russian] President Putin that there needs to be a document that outlives both of us. And what form that comes in we will discuss." On the war against terror, Bush reiterated that U.S. policy "is to deny sanctuary to terrorists any place in the world," and he said his administration will be very active in doing that. "If we find a (terrorist) training camp, we'll take care of it. Either we will, or our friends will. ... Part of the new phase that's becoming apparent to the American people is that we're working closely with other governments to deny sanctuary or training or a place to hide or a place to raise money. And we've got more work to do. ... We've only been at this six months. "This is going to be a long struggle. I keep saying that. I don't know whether you all believe me or not, but time will show you that it's going to take a long time to achieve this objective. And I can assure you, I am not going to blink. And I'm not going to get tired, because I know what is at stake. And history has called us to action, and I am going to seize this moment for the good of the world, for peace in the world, and for freedom." Asked if al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is dead or alive, Bush said he did not know, but he said the issue of terrorism is bigger than one man. "The idea of focusing on one person really indicates to me people don't understand the scope of the mission. Terror is bigger than one person. And he's a person who's now been marginalized. His network has -- his host government has been destroyed. He's the ultimate parasite, who found weakness, exploited it, and met his match." Bush said. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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