Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=9/10/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= BUSH IRAQ PORTUGAL (L)

NUMBER=2-293891

BYLINE= PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE= WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

INTRO: On the eve of the first anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, President Bush conferred at the White House with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barosso. (Bah-ro'-zoo) V-O-A's Paula Wolfson reports they talked about the war on terrorism and Iraq.

TEXT: The president said the Portuguese leader came to the White House at an interesting and important time when the world is discussing the past, the present and the future.

///BUSH ACT///

Tomorrow, we'll be reliving a horrible reminder of what is possible in the 21st century, that is no country is immune from attack.

///END ACT///

He then turned to what he called the "future threat" posed by Iraq's desire to get nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

///BUSH ACT TWO///

All of us face the dire possibilities that outlaw regimes will develop weapons of mass destruction.

///END ACT///

But the Portuguese Prime Minister seemed skeptical about expanding the war on terrorism into Iraq. He warned the president against unilateral action, saying a global problem warrants a global solution.

///DURAU BORASSO ACT///

I think it is very important that the United States of America and President Bush listen to the opinions of close allies, and Portugal is a very close ally of the United States. I think Winston Churchill (the British Prime Minister during World War Two) said once the problem with allies is they have opinions. And I came here to listen to President Bush but also to give him my opinion.

///END ACT///

In a speech Thursday to the United Nations, Mr. Bush will make the case for action against Iraq. British Prime Minister Tony Blair seemed to give a preview of the speech Tuesday when he warned "action will follow" if Iraq ignores international demands to disarm and admit U-N weapons inspectors.

///REST OPT///

White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer had warm words for the Blair comments.

////FLEISCHER ACT///

The president welcomes Prime Minister Blair's strong leadership in the war on terror. Prime Minister Blair represents the thoughts of many who are concerned about liberty and freedom, and the president looks forward to giving a speech Thursday at the United Nations.

///END ACT///

A senior Bush administration official later told reporters that Mr. Bush will talk about the "challenge" Iraq poses to the U-N. The official said the president will make clear Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein leads an "outlaw regime" which has defied U-N resolutions for more than a decade, and the world cannot wait any longer to take some kind of action. (signed)

NEB/PW/KBK