    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [March 8, 2003]
    [Pages 257-258]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 257]]

    The President's Radio Address
    March 8, 2003

        Good morning. This has been an important week on two fronts of our
    war against terror. First, American and Pakistani authorities captured
    the mastermind of the September the 11th attacks against our country,
    Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Sheik This is a
    landmark achievement in disrupting the Al Qaida network, and we believe
    it will help us prevent future acts of terror. We are currently working
    with over 90 countries and have dealt with over 3,000 terrorists who
    have been detained, arrested, or otherwise will not be a problem for the
    United States.
        Second, the chief United Nations weapons inspector reported yesterday to the Security Council on his
    efforts to verify Saddam Hussein's compliance
    with Resolution 1441. This resolution requires Iraq to fully and
    unconditionally disarm itself of nuclear, chemical, and biological
    weapons materials, as well as the prohibited missiles that could be used
    to deliver them. Unfortunately, it is clear that Saddam Hussein is still
    violating the demands of the United Nations by refusing to disarm.
        Iraqi's dictator has made a public show
    of producing and destroying a few prohibited missiles. Yet, our
    intelligence shows that even as he is destroying these few missiles, he
    has ordered the continued production of the very same type of missiles.
    Iraqi operatives continue to play a shell game with inspectors, moving
    suspected prohibited materials to different locations every 12 to 24
    hours. And Iraqi weapons scientists continue to be threatened with harm
    should they cooperate in interviews with U.N. inspectors.
        These are not the actions of a regime that is disarming. These are
    the actions of a regime engaged in a willful charade. If the Iraqi
    regime were disarming, we would know it because we would see it. Iraq's
    weapons would be presented to inspectors and destroyed. Inspection teams
    do not need more time or more personnel. All they need is what they have
    never received, the full cooperation of the Iraqi regime. The only
    acceptable outcome is the outcome already demanded by a unanimous vote
    of the Security Council, total disarmament.
        Saddam Hussein has a long history of
    reckless aggression and terrible crimes. He possesses weapons of terror.
    He provides funding and training and safe haven to terrorists who would
    willingly deliver weapons of mass destruction against America and other
    peace-loving countries.
        The attacks of September the 11th, 2001, showed what the enemies of
    America did with four airplanes. We will not wait to see what terrorists
    or terror states could do with weapons of mass destruction. We are
    determined to confront threats wherever they arise. And as a last
    resort, we must be willing to use military force. We are doing
    everything we can to avoid war in Iraq. But if Saddam Hussein does not disarm peacefully, he will be disarmed by
    force.
        Across the world and in every part of America, people of good will
    are hoping and praying for peace. Our goal is peace for our own Nation,
    for our friends, for our allies, and for all the peoples of the Middle
    East. People of good will must also recognize that allowing a dangerous
    dictator to defy the world and build an arsenal for conquest and mass
    murder is not peace at all; it is pretense. The cause of peace will be
    advanced only when the terrorists lose a wealthy patron and protector
    and when the dictator is fully and finally disarmed.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 10:47 a.m. on March 7 in the Cabinet
    Room at

    [[Page 258]]

    the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on March 8. The transcript
    was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on March 7 but
    was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his remarks, the
    President referred to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, senior Al Qaida leader
    responsible for planning the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, who
    was captured in Pakistan on March 1, 2003; Hans Blix, Executive
    Chairman, United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection
    Commission; and President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. The Office of the
    Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this
    address.