    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [November 9, 2002]
    [Pages 2056-2057]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    November 9, 2002

        Good morning. This was an important week for our country and for the
    world. The United Nations Security Council voted for a resolution
    requiring the Iraqi regime to declare and destroy all weapons of mass
    destruction or face the consequences. Here at home, our citizens voted
    in an election I believe will strengthen our ability to get things done
    for the American people.
        With the United Nations Security Council resolution passed
    yesterday, the world has now come together to say that the outlaw regime
    in Iraq will not be permitted to build or possess chemical, biological,
    or nuclear weapons. That is the judgment of the United Nations Security
    Council. That is the judgment of the United States Congress. And my
    administration will see to it that the world's judgment is enforced.

    [[Page 2057]]

        The resolution presents the Iraqi regime with a test, a final test.
    Iraq must now, without delay or negotiations, give up its weapons of
    mass destruction, welcome full inspections, and fundamentally change the
    approach it has taken for more than a decade. The regime must allow
    immediate and unrestricted access to every site, every document, and
    every person identified by inspectors. Iraq can be certain that the old
    game of cheat-and-retreat, tolerated at other times, will no longer be
    tolerated.
        Any act of delay or defiance will be an additional breach of Iraq's
    international obligations and a clear signal that the Iraqi regime has
    once again abandoned the path of voluntary compliance. If Iraq fails to
    fully comply with the U.N. resolution, the United States, in coalition
    with other nations, will disarm Saddam Hussein.
        Republicans and Democrats in Congress are strongly supporting our
    war against terror. As the current Congress returns to Washington this
    week, I hope we can act in the same spirit of unity to complete some
    unfinished business.
        The single most important item of unfinished business on Capitol
    Hill is to create a unified Department of Homeland Security that will
    vastly improve our ability to protect our borders, our coasts, and our
    communities. The Senate must pass a bill that will strengthen our
    ability to protect the American people and preserve the authority every
    President since John Kennedy has had to act in the interests of national
    security. Congress needs to send me a bill I can sign before it adjourns
    this year.
        We also have a responsibility to strengthen the economy so that
    people can find jobs. One immediate thing Congress can do to help put
    people to work is to pass legislation so that construction projects can
    get insurance against terrorism at a reasonable price. This will spur
    construction and create thousands of good hardhat jobs that are now on
    hold because projects without insurance cannot be built.
        Congress must also show fiscal discipline as it passes the
    appropriations bills. At a time when we're at war, at a time when we
    need to strengthen our economy, Congress must control wasteful spending
    while funding the Nation's priorities.
        American workers deserve action on these important economic issues.
    Our economy has come out of a recession and is growing. But I'm not
    satisfied, because I know we can do better. I want the economy to grow
    at a faster and stronger pace, so more Americans can find jobs. So I
    will work with our new Congress to pass a growth-and-jobs package early
    next year.
        Our Nation has important challenges ahead, at home and abroad. And
    we're determined to build the security and prosperity of America. Thank
    you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 9:35 a.m. on November 8 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on November 9. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    November 8 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his
    remarks, the President referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.