    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [October 5, 2002]
    [Pages 1735-1736]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    October 5, 2002

        Good morning. This week leaders of the Congress agreed on a strong
    bipartisan resolution authorizing the use of force, if necessary, to
    disarm Saddam Hussein and to defend the
    peace. Now both the House and the Senate will have an important debate
    and an historic vote. Speaker Hastert and
    Leader Gephardt and Leader Lott did tremendous work in building bipartisan support on
    this vital issue.
        The danger to America from the Iraqi regime is grave and growing.
    The regime is guilty of beginning two wars. It has a horrible history of
    striking without warning. In defiance of pledges to the United Nations,
    Iraq has stockpiled biological and

    [[Page 1736]]

    chemical weapons and is rebuilding the facilities used to make more of
    those weapons. Saddam Hussein has used these
    weapons of death against innocent Iraqi people, and we have every reason
    to believe he will use them again.
        Iraq has longstanding ties to terrorist groups, which are capable of
    and willing to deliver weapons of mass death. And Iraq is ruled by
    perhaps the world's most brutal dictator, who
    has already committed genocide with chemical weapons, ordered the
    torture of children, and instituted the systematic rape of the wives and
    daughters of his political opponents.
        We cannot leave the future of peace and the security of America in
    the hands of this cruel and dangerous man.
    This dictator must be disarmed, and all the United Nations resolutions
    against his brutality and support for terrorism must be enforced.
        The United States does not desire military conflict, because we know
    the awful nature of war. Our country values life, and we will never seek
    war unless it is essential to security and justice. We hope that Iraq
    complies with the world's demands. If, however, the Iraqi regime
    persists in its defiance, the use of force may become unavoidable.
    Delay, indecision, and inaction are not options for America, because
    they could lead to massive and sudden horror.
        Should force be required to bring Saddam
    to account, the United States will work with other nations to help the
    Iraqi people rebuild and form a just government. We have no quarrel with
    the Iraqi people. They are the daily victims of Saddam Hussein's
    oppression, and they will be the first to benefit when the world's
    demands are met.
        American security, the safety of our friends, and the values of our
    country lead us to confront this gathering threat. By supporting the
    resolution now before them, Members of Congress will send a clear
    message to Saddam: His only choice is to
    fully comply with the demands of the world. And the time for that choice
    is limited. Supporting this resolution will also show the resolve of the
    United States and will help spur the United Nations to act.
        I urge Americans to call their Members of Congress to make sure your
    voice is heard. The decision before Congress cannot be more
    consequential. I'm confident that members of both political parties will
    choose wisely.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 9 a.m. on October 4 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on October 5. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    October 4 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his
    remarks, President Bush referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.
    The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.