    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [February 25, 2003]
    [Pages 208-210]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With the National Economic Council and an
    Exchange With Reporters
    February 25, 2003

        The President. Thank you all for coming. I'm meeting with my
    National Economic Council, key members of my administration who have
    been traveling the country, listening to the voices of small-business
    people, entrepreneurs, workers, listening to their

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    concerns about our future. And at the same time explaining to them how
    we address the economic issues of our country.
        This administration is firmly committed to the principle that if
    people have more of their own money, they're likely to spend it on a
    good or a service, which means somebody is more likely to be able to
    find work. We're committed to the notion that investment of capital
    equals jobs.
        And so therefore, our policies are aimed at encouraging investment
    and job creation, as well as consumer confidence and spending. And we
    are confident that when the Congress listens to the people, that they
    will support this plan. It's an important economic plan, and it's one
    that we look forward to vigorously working with Congress to get it done
    here.
        I'll be glad to take some questions. Let me start off with Angle
    [Jim Angle, FOX News].

    Iraqi Disarmament/Risks of War

        Q. Mr. President, what would it take at this point to avoid a war
    with Iraq?
        The President. Full disarmament.
        Q. Could you expand on that, sir? I mean, what----
        The President. Well, there's only one thing. There's full
    disarmament. The man has been told to disarm.
    For the sake of peace, he must completely disarm. I suspect we'll see
    him playing games, that he will--the world will say disarm, and he will
    all of a sudden find a weapon that he claimed he didn't have.
        Q. Happened this morning, as a matter of fact.
        The President. I suspect that he will try
    to fool the world one more time. After all, he has had a history of
    doing that for 12 years. He's been successful at gaming the system, and
    our attitude is, it's now time for him to fully disarm. And we expect
    the Security Council to honor its word by insisting that Saddam disarm.
    Now is the time.
        David [David Jackson, Dallas Morning News].
        Q. Mr. President, one of the uncertainties about the economy is the
    possibility of a war. Do you have any idea how much a war might cost and
    how it might affect our economy here at home?
        The President. David, there is all kinds of estimates about the cost
    of war. But the risk of doing nothing, the risk of the security of this
    country being jeopardized at the hands of a madman with weapons of mass destruction, far exceeds the
    risks of any action we may be forced to take.
        There are people who worry about the future. I understand that, and
    I worry about the future. I worry about a future in which Saddam
    Hussein gets to blackmail and/or attack. I
    worry about a future in which terrorist organizations are fueled and
    funded by a Saddam Hussein. And that's why we're bringing this issue to
    a head.
        Heidi [Heidi Pryzbyla, Bloomberg News].
        Q. Will the outcome of any U.N. Security Council vote have any
    effect on whether or not we go to war in Iraq?
        The President. Obviously, we'd like to have a positive vote. That's
    why we've submitted a Security Council resolution, along with Great
    Britain and Spain. But as I said all along, it would be helpful and
    useful, but I don't believe we need a second resolution. Saddam
    Hussein hasn't disarmed. He may play like
    he's going to disarm, but he hasn't disarmed. And for the sake of peace
    and the security of the American people, he must disarm.
        Fournier [Ron Fournier, Associated Press].
        Q. Sir, how big and exactly what kind of sacrifices will be asked of
    the U.S. troops, their families, the American public, should you decide
    to go to war?
        The President. Well, any time you put a troop into harm's way, that
    in itself is a sacrifice. First of all--and that's why war is my last
    choice. That's why I've said all along I would hope that the world would

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    come together to convince Saddam to make the
    decision to disarm.
        Perhaps the biggest risk in the theater, if we were to commit our
    troops, is Saddam himself. He shows no regard
    for human life in his own country. After all, he's gassed them; he's
    used the weapons of mass destruction on his own people that he now
    claims he doesn't have. He tortures people. He brutalizes them. He could
    care less about human condition inside of Iraq.
        And so I think one of the biggest dangers we face, if we go to war,
    is how he treats innocent life. And it is
    important for Iraqi leadership and Iraqi generals to clearly understand
    that if they take innocent life, if they destroy infrastructure, they
    will be held to account as war criminals.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:16 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.
    The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of these remarks.