07 June 2002
Cheney Says Iraq's Pursuit of WMD Threatens U.S., Allies
(Vice president speaks June 6 to U.S. homebuilders) (1050) Vice President Richard Cheney says Saddam Hussein's clear pursuit of weapons of mass destruction "requires the most careful, deliberate, and decisive response" by the United States and its allies. "A regime that has gassed thousands of its own citizens -- a regime that hates America and our friends -- must never be permitted to threaten America with weapons of mass destruction," Cheney said June 6 in remarks to the National Association of Home Builders. Referring to President Bush's announcement, which came later in the day, on the creation of a new, Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security, Cheney stressed that, "For the same reason we are vigilant at home, we must be resolute abroad" in continuing the "long and unrelenting effort" to combat terrorism. Following is the excerpt of Cheney's prepared remarks that dealt with terrorism: (begin excerpt) As our administration pursues a full agenda in Washington -- on everything from fiscal restraint to better public schools -- never for a moment do we lose sight of the most important responsibility we have: to win the war that began on September 11, 2001. This nation is alert to dangers, and prepared to defend itself. Our homeland security efforts include better security in the airports -- a closer watch on the border -- and essential reforms in agencies such as the FBI and the CIA, making them better able to act quickly against danger. Later this evening, the president will speak to the nation from the White House about some major reforms in government -- reforms that are both historic and essential to the security of this nation. As we go forward with significant improvements in homeland defense, we also realize that wars are not won on the defensive. We must take the battle to the enemy -- and, where necessary, preempt grave threats to our country before they materialize. As President Bush said the other day at West Point, "In the world we have entered, the only path to safety is the path of action. And this nation will act." From the very beginning, the president has also made clear that there is no neutral ground in the fight against terror. Those who harbor and support terrorists are themselves guilty of terrorism, and they can expect to be held accountable. This lesson has already been learned in Afghanistan, where the terror camps have been destroyed, and the Taliban regime is out of business, permanently. Afghanistan, however, is only the beginning of a long and unrelenting effort. For the same reason we are vigilant at home, we must be resolute abroad. It is not fast or easy work to confront a terror network that has cells in 60 or more countries. We have to do this job with the tools of diplomacy, finance, intelligence, law enforcement, and military power. But we are going to shut down terrorist camps wherever they are -- and disrupt terrorist plans -- and find the terrorists one by one, and bring them to justice. In Afghanistan we found confirmation that bin Laden and the al-Qaida network were seriously interested in nuclear and radiological weapons, and in biological and chemical agents. We are especially concerned about any possible linkup between terrorists and regimes that have or seek weapons of mass destruction. In the case of Saddam Hussein, we have a dictator who is clearly pursuing these deadly capabilities -- defying the U.N. resolutions he agreed to, and kicking U.N. weapons inspectors out of his country. Saddam has also shown that he is willing to use weapons of mass destruction. He used them in his war against Iran, and has used them against his own people. This gathering danger requires the most careful, deliberate, and decisive response by America and our allies. A regime that has gassed thousands of its own citizens -- a regime that hates America and our friends -- must never be permitted to threaten America with weapons of mass destruction. The most visible successes in the war have been achieved by our military. As a former secretary of defense, I have never been more proud of the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America. As we saw in Afghanistan, our superb technology gives us a consistent upper hand in the fighting -- enabling us to protect our troops, to make their job easier, and to spare the lives of innocent civilians. That technology is also expensive, and takes a long time to develop. The forces that will defend us 10 or 20 years down the road must be planned and built today. The fight against terror is a long-term effort, and it requires us to maintain every possible material advantage. For that reason, President Bush has asked Congress for the largest increase in defense spending since the days of President Ronald Reagan. This is a case of federal spending for the most essential purposes. If we're going to ask young men and women to defend our country, our allies, and our freedom ... if we're going to send them on dangerous missions to fight determined enemies -- they deserve the best equipment, training, and support we can give them. And for the good of all our military families, the president's budget gives every man and woman in uniform a raise in pay -- and they have earned it. In the days after the attack on our country, so many people showed the true character of America in their deep concern and their incredible generosity. The members of this organization did your part, and more. Your fund for victim relief set a goal of raising $5 million in pledges within six weeks. Instead, you raised $7 million within the first week, and several million more after that. I congratulate you for that example of good citizenship. I commend you for the hard work you do every day, in every community of our nation. And for your support over the years, and your hospitality today, I thank you all very much. (end excerpt) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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