    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [September 18, 2002]
    [Pages 1611-1612]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Congressional Leaders and an Exchange
    With Reporters
    September 18, 2002

        The President. Listen, I want to thank the Vice President and the leadership of the Congress for coming down for
    breakfast today. We had a really good discussion about our common
    concerns. The leadership is committed to moving important legislation
    forward, legislation that will help expand our job base. We talked about
    the energy bill. We talked about terrorism insurance. We talked about
    the defense appropriations. We talked about the appropriations process.
        We also talked about Iraq. We talked about the fact that Saddam
    Hussein has stiffed the United Nations for 11
    long years and that, once again, he said--made some kind of statement,
    trying to take the pressure off of himself. This statement about

    [[Page 1612]]

    unconditional inspections was something he's made in the past. He
    deceives. He delays. He denies. And the United States and, I'm
    convinced, the world community, aren't going to fall for that kind of
    rhetoric on--by him again.
        We talked about a resolution out of Congress and how it was
    important for us to work with Congress to pass a strong resolution. I
    told the Members that within the next couple of days this administration
    will develop language as--that we think is necessary. And we look
    forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to get a
    resolution passed.
        I want to thank the leadership for its commitment to get a
    resolution done before Members go home for the election break. I think
    it's an important signal. It's an important signal for the country, but
    as importantly, it's an important signal for the world to see that this
    country is united in our resolve to deal with threats that we face.
        And so, thank you all for coming. I'll take a couple of questions:
    Fournier [Ron Fournier, Associated Press], Keil [Richard Keil, Bloomberg
    News].

    Iraqi Acceptance of U.N. Inspections

        Q. Like it or not, is it accurate to say that Saddam playing his
    move has made the allies go wobbly----
        The President. Do what now?
        Q. Has Saddam's latest move helped make the allies go wobbly on it?
        The President. Oh, all they've got to do is look at the record. It's
    his latest ploy, his latest attempt not to be held accountable for
    defying the United Nations. He's not going to fool anybody. I mean, he
    is--we've seen him before. And we'll remind the world that by defying
    the United Nations he is becoming more and more threat to world peace.
    And I'm convinced that the world understands the ploy. And one of the
    jobs the United States has is to remind people about not only the threat
    but the fact that his defiance has weakened the United Nations. And the
    United Nations, in order for the world to be a more peaceful place, must
    rise up and deal with this threat and hold him to account. And that's
    what we expect out of the Security Council.
        Dick.

    U.N. Security Council

        Q. Mr. President, a follow on Ron's question. Do you think that
    you'll be able to persuade France and Russia to go along with us on
    whatever it is you and the Congress decide to do? And frankly, sir, is
    that necessary? Are you prepared to go it alone?
        The President. Listen, we're speculating about what nations are
    going to do. I'm convinced that when we continue to make the case about
    his defiance, his deception, his--the fact that time and time again,
    dozens of times, he has told the world, ``Oh, I will comply,'' and he
    never does--that the nations which long for peace and care about the
    validity of the United Nations will join us.
        And so we're going to work hard to continue to make the case. I
    think reasonable people understand this man is unreasonable. And
    reasonable people understand that this is just a ploy; this is a tactic;
    this is a way to try to say to the world, ``Oh, I'm a wonderful,
    peaceful fellow,'' when, in fact, he not only kills his own people, he's
    terrorized his neighborhood, and he's developing weapons of mass
    destruction. We must deal with him.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:03 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.