UNITED24 - Make a charitable donation in support of Ukraine!

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

16 October 2002

Text: Bush Praises Congressional Resolution on Iraq

(Says congressional debate shows U.S. speaks with one voice) (590)
President Bush has praised the congressional resolution authorizing
the use of force, if necessary, against Iraq, saying the resolution
shows that the United States speaks with one voice in dealing with
this matter.
"Congress has demonstrated that the United States speaks with one
voice on the threat to international peace and security posed by Iraq.
It has also clearly communicated to the international community, to
the United Nations Security Council, and, above all, to Iraq's
tyrannical regime a powerful and important message: the days of Iraq
flouting the will of the world, brutalizing its own people, and
terrorizing its neighbors must -- and will -- end," Bush said in a
statement issued by the White House October 16.
The statement said Iraq will either comply with all U.N. resolutions,
rid itself of weapons of mass destruction, end in its support for
terrorists, or it will be compelled to do so.
Following is the text of the statement:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
October 16, 2002
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Today I have signed into law H.J. Res. 114, a resolution "To authorize
the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq." By passing H.J.
Res. 114, the Congress has demonstrated that the United States speaks
with one voice on the threat to international peace and security posed
by Iraq. It has also clearly communicated to the international
community, to the United Nations Security Council, and, above all, to
Iraq's tyrannical regime a powerful and important message: the days of
Iraq flouting the will of the world, brutalizing its own people, and
terrorizing its neighbors must -- and will -- end. Iraq will either
comply with all U.N. resolutions, rid itself of weapons of mass
destruction, and in its support for terrorists, or it will be
compelled to do so. I hope that Iraq will choose compliance and peace,
and I believe passage of this resolution makes that choice more
likely.
The debate over this resolution in the Congress was in the finest
traditions of American democracy. There is no social or political
force greater than a free people united in a common and compelling
objective. It is for that reason that I sought an additional
resolution of support from the Congress to use force against Iraq,
should force become necessary. While I appreciate receiving that
support, my request for it did not, and my signing this resolution
does not, constitute any change in the long-standing positions of the
executive branch on either the President's constitutional authority to
use force to deter, prevent, or respond to aggression or other threats
to U.S. interests or on the constitutionality of the War Powers
Resolution. On the important question of the threat posed by Iraq,
however, the views and goals of the Congress, as expressed in H.J.
Res. 114 and previous congressional resolutions and enactments, and
those of the President are the same.
Throughout the past months, I have had extensive consultations with
the Congress, and I look forward to continuing close consultation in
the months ahead. In addition, in accordance with section 4 of H.J.
Res. 114, I intend to submit written reports to the Congress on
matters relevant to this resolution every 60 days. To the extent
possible, I intend to consolidate information in these reports with
the information concerning Iraq submitted to the Congress pursuant to
previous, related resolutions.
The United States is committed to a world in which the people of all
nations can live in freedom, peace, and security. Enactment of H.J.
Res. 114 is an important step on the road toward such a world.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE, October 16, 2002.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)



NEWSLETTER
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list