12 November 2002
Bush: U.S. Has "Zero Tolerance" for Deception and Delay by Iraq
(A final opportunity for Saddam Hussein to disarm, White House says) (740) By Wendy S. Ross Washington File White House Correspondent Washington -- The United States will no longer tolerate deception and delay by the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq, President Bush told reporters accompanying him November 12 as he visited two sites in downtown Washington. "It's over, we're through negotiations, there's no more time. The man must disarm. He said he would disarm, he now must disarm. "Deception and delay, ... all that is over with," the President said. "There's a zero tolerance policy now. The last 11 years have been a period of time when this guy tried to deceive the world and we're through with it. It's as simple as that." Under the terms of the most recent resolution on Iraq passed unanimously by the United Nations Security Council November 8, Iraq must declare its willingness to disarm by this coming Friday, November 15. Iraq's Parliament has rejected the resolution, but U.S. officials say it is clear the final decision is up to Saddam Hussein himself. If he were to reject it, then the United Nations "Security Council will assess what consequences need to happen," White House Deputy Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters at the White House daily briefing. "But that does not handcuff the United States in any way if the U.N. decides not to act," he said. "The U.S., with our friends, as the President has made clear, has the authority and will use it to disarm Saddam Hussein and his regime if need be." President Bush, McClellan said, "seeks a peaceful resolution. But if Saddam Hussein refuses to disarm peacefully, then we intend to disarm him. So I think it's very clear to Saddam Hussein what he needs to do. And he should not be playing games here. And the resolution clearly spells out what he needs to do." Now is the time for Saddam Hussein to comply or face serious consequences, McClellan said. "No more games, no more cheat and retreat, no more deny and deceive, no more rope-a-dope in the desert with inspectors. No negotiation," McClellan said. "The choice right now is Saddam Hussein's. But again, as stated in the resolution, this is a final opportunity for Saddam Hussein to disarm. It is his choice to determine whether he wants to do so peacefully or if he wants to be disarmed by force. But one thing is abundantly clear, as the President has mentioned, he will be disarmed. And it just now comes down to a choice of whether he wants to do it peacefully or if it's going to be done by force." Asked about a report that Iraq is trying to buy antidotes to nerve gas and other agents, McClellan said he would not discuss any specific reports based on intelligence information. But he did say that "we do not need any more proof that Saddam Hussein possesses and is willing to use chemical and biological weapons. He has already used them on his own people. And I can assure you that the Department of Defense is going to do everything they can to protect our troops if they are called in to disarm Saddam Hussein." Bush made his remarks about Iraq to reporters who accompanied him as he toured the Washington Metropolitan Police Department's Operations Center, and spoke on the need for the U.S. Congress to speedily approve a Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security in the federal government. Bush said he was "encouraged" by the ongoing discussions on the proposed legislation, and believes the post-election Congress will be able to reach agreement and approve it. Congress reconvened in Washington November 12 for a brief "lame duck" session following the November 5 midterm elections for the new Congress that takes office in early January. "The President believes his highest priority is the protection of the American people, and that is why we need to move forward as quickly as possible in this lame duck session to create a Department of Homeland Security," McClellan said. The legislation has been held up by Democrats over the issue of civil service protection for workers employed by the new department. Every employee in the new department "will be treated fairly and be protected from discrimination," McClellan said. "But it's important that the President have the maximum flexibility, as well, to hire and fire, to move people around, if it's in the interest of our national security and protecting the American people." The proposed department would combine 170,000 workers from 22 agencies, and would be the largest reorganization in the federal government since 1940. (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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