[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.