Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=12/18/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=BUSH / IRAQ UPDATE (S)

NUMBER=2-297585

BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush is concerned about omissions in Iraq's weapons declaration. V-O-A's Scott Stearns has the story.

TEXT: While President Bush is still reviewing Iraq's declaration, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer says he does have some early assessments.

/// FLEISCHER ACT ///

The president is concerned about Iraq's failure to list information in this document. The president is concerned with omissions in this document and the president is concerned with problems in this document.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Fleischer says those concerns are based on comparing what Iraq has declared now with what U-N weapons inspectors reported in 1999.

He says the Bush Administration will make a more complete assessment following Thursday's report by chief U-N weapons inspector Hans Blix.

Mr. Fleischer says the president wants those inspections to continue even if he concludes Iraq is violating the resolution. Each of the 15 members of the Security Council will judge the report on its own. If the council as a whole decides that Iraq is in "material breach" of the resolution, they will then discuss the consequences.

If President Bush is not satisfied with those consequences, he says he will lead his own coalition to disarm Iraq by force if necessary. (SIGNED)

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