Bush braces Americans for possible war with Iraq

3.20pm

WASHINGTON - President Bush has braced wary Americans for a possible war by saying in his State of the Union speech that Iraq has shown contempt for UN disarmament demands and that "some crucial hours may lie ahead" for US troops.

"If war is forced upon us, we will fight with the full force and might of the United States military -- and we will prevail," Bush told a television audience from the chamber of the House of Representatives, which was brimming with lawmakers, Cabinet secretaries and other dignitaries.

The speech, which began at 3pm NZDT, was seen as critical to Bush's attempt to marshal backing for possible war and reassure Americans jittery about a weak US economy. There is a growing anxiety among Americans about going to war and UN Security Council members have urged the United States to use caution and give UN weapons inspections more time.

To US forces in the Gulf region expected to be ready for combat next month, Bush said: "Many of you are assembling in and near the Middle East, and some crucial hours may lie ahead. In those hours, the success of our cause will depend on you."

To try to convince doubting allies, Bush called on the UN Security Council to convene on February 5 to hear Secretary of State Colin Powell present information and intelligence about Iraq's suspected weapons of mass destruction programs.

Democrats have demanded that the White House bolster its case by releasing more evidence. UN arms inspectors have yet to find any major evidence of the weapons of mass destruction Iraq denies having or trying to obtain.

Bush made clear America was prepared to act to disarm Iraq with or without UN backing.

"We will consult, but let there be no misunderstanding: If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm, for the safety of our people, and for the peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him," he said.

Bush said evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications and statements from people now in custody reveal that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists including members of al Qaeda.

The lack of a clear link between Saddam and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks has hampered the US case that Iraq is part of the war on terrorism. But Bush offered no new evidence of such a clear link in his speech.

Bush said Saddam has failed to account for 30,000 munitions capable of delivering chemical agents, 38,000 litres of botulinum toxin -- which he said was enough to subject millions of people to death by respiratory failure, and materials that could produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve gas.

"Almost three months ago, the United Nations Security Council gave Saddam Hussein his final chance to disarm. He has shown instead his utter contempt for the United Nations, and for the opinion of the world," Bush said.

Bush had a message for critics who have said the threat from Iraq is not imminent.

"Some have said that we must not act until the threat is imminent," Bush said. "Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike?"

As a reminder of Sept. 11, one seat in first lady Laura Bush's VIP seating box for the speech was to remain empty.

As a measure to avoid a repeat of the Sept. 11 attacks, Bush said he was instructing the heads of the FBI, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security and the Defence Department to develop a "terrorist threat integration centre," to merge and analyse all threat information in a single location.

With thousands of troops deployed in the Gulf and more on the way expected to be ready for combat in February, Bush used flag-waving rhetoric.

He said Americans are a resolute people who have "risen to every test of our time" and that the United States is "honourable in the use of our strength."

"We exercise power without conquest, and sacrifice for the liberty of strangers," he said.

Democrats were already criticising Bush before he delivered the speech. "The state of the union today is anxious," said Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

"People are very concerned about their pensions, they're concerned about their jobs, they're concerned about the economy, they're concerned about war in Iraq, they're concerned about the war against the terrorists, they're concerned about education," he said.

Bush sought to assure Americans his US$674 billion economic plan holds the key to restoring growth in the lacklustre US economy, amid a 6 per cent unemployment rate, shaken investor confidence and a jobless recovery.

He said his economic plan, which includes eliminating taxes investors pay on dividends and speeding up tax rate cuts, will help give a boost to the US economy.

"The economy grows when Americans have more money to spend and invest. And the best, fairest way to make sure Americans have the money is not to take it away in the first place," Bush said.

Bush insisted that he and America are equal to the task of confronting challenges at home and abroad.

"We will not deny, we will not ignore, we will not pass along our problems to other Congresses, other presidents and other generations. We will confront them with focus, and clarity and courage," he said.

Bush outlined four specific domestic goals for Congress to address in the coming years: improve the economy, strengthen health care, provide greater energy independence and gain passage of his "faith-based" proposals for letting religious organisations compete for federal funding to attack social problems like drug addiction and poverty.

- REUTERS

Herald feature: Iraq

January 28, 2003: