[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.