The White House Briefing Room
December 19, 1998
RADIO ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION
10:06 A.M. EST
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_____________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release December 19, 1998
RADIO ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT
TO THE NATION
The Oval Office
10:06 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. As I speak to you
America's men and women in uniform, and our British allies, are
fighting for security, peace and freedom in the Persian Gulf.
They're doing an outstanding job, showing bravery and skill, making
our country proud. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Putting our troops in harm's way is the hardest decision
any President faces. I believe our action in Iraq clearly is in
America's interest. Never again can we allow Saddam Hussein to
develop nuclear weapons, poison gas, biological weapons, or missiles
to deliver them. He has used such terrible weapons before against
soldiers, against his neighbors, against civilians. And if left
unchecked, he'll use them again.
For seven and a half years, United Nations weapons
inspectors did a truly remarkable job in forcing Saddam to disclose
and destroy weapons he insisted he did not have. But over the past
year Saddam repeatedly has blocked their efforts. Each time with
intensive diplomacy backed by the threat of force, we compelled him
to back down.
Last month, when he agreed to fully cooperate, I
cancelled an American military action. But I, along with Prime
Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain, made it absolutely clear that
if he did not fully cooperate we would have no choice but to act
without further negotiation or warning.
For three weeks, the U.N. inspectors tested Saddam's
commitment. He failed the test, hindering and preventing
inspections, withholding and destroying documents. As their Chairman
concluded, the inspectors can no longer do their vital job. Under
these circumstances, had we failed to respond it would have given
Saddam a green light to rebuild his arsenal and threaten his
neighbors.
I acted quickly because, as my military advisors
stressed, the longer we waited, the more time Saddam would have to
disperse his forces and protect his arsenal. Our mission is clear:
to degrade Saddam's capacity to develop and deliver weapons of mass
destruction, and threaten the region. Based on reports from the
Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and the CIA
Director, I believe the mission is going well.
Now, where do we go from here? Our long-term strategy
is clear. First, we stand ready to use force again if Saddam takes
threatening action such as seeking to reconstitute his weapons of
mass destruction, menacing his neighbors or his own Kurdish citizens,
or challenging allied aircraft.
Second, so long as Iraq fails to live up to its
obligations, we'll work with the international community to keep the
sanctions in place. They have cost Saddam more than $120 billion --
resources he would have devoted to rebuilding his weaponry. At the
same time, we will continue to support the ongoing program to provide
humanitarian supplies to the people of Iraq, so that Saddam uses his
oil to buy food and medicine, not tanks and missiles.
Finally, we'll strengthen our engagement with Iraqis who
want a new government, one that will respect its citizens and live in
peace with its neighbors. We must not harbor illusions, however,
that change will come easily or quickly. But we should go forward,
and we will, with determination, working with opposition groups,
strengthening the global consensus for bringing Iraq a government
worthy of its people.
As our forces carry out their missions, I want to
express my heartfelt thanks to all our soldiers, sailors, airmen and
Marines, in the Gulf and all around the world, who work every day to
defend our freedom, promote stability and democracy, and bring hope.
To those forces now engaged in the battle against Saddam Hussein, you
have our appreciation for your courage, and our nation's hopes for
your safe and successful return.
To all those in our Armed Forces who will spend this
holiday season away from home, away from your loved ones, we thank
you for your service. You are helping to insure a just and peaceful
world.
As we enter the season of peace, we remain ever-hopeful
that, one day, all nations and all communities will actually live in
peace, with tolerance, respect, and civility. There can be no
greater gift for our children.
Thanks for listening.
END 10:11 A.M. EST
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