[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 40 (Monday, October 7, 2002)]
[Pages 1669-1671]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Announcing Bipartisan Agreement on a Joint Resolution To 
Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq

October 2, 2002

    The President. Thank you all for coming. Today I'm joined by leaders 
of the House and the Senate from both political parties to show our 
unity of purpose in confronting a gathering threat to the security of 
America and to the future of peace.
    I want to thank in particular Speaker Hastert and Leader Gephardt, 
Leader Lott, for the tremendous work in building bipartisan support on 
this vital issue. I also want to thank Senators Warner, Lieberman, 
McCain, and Bayh for introducing this resolution, which we've agreed to 
on the floor of the Senate this morning.
    The text of our bipartisan resolution is clear, and it is strong. 
The statement of support from the Congress will show to friend and enemy 
alike the resolve of the United States. In Baghdad, the regime will know 
that full compliance with all U.N. security demands is the only choice 
and that time remaining for that choice is limited.
    On its present course, the Iraqi regime is a threat of unique 
urgency. We know the treacherous history of the regime. It has waged a 
war against its neighbors. It has

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sponsored and sheltered terrorists. It has developed weapons of mass 
death. It has used them against innocent men, women, and children. We 
know the designs of the Iraqi regime. In defiance of pledges to the 
U.N., it has stockpiled biological and chemical weapons. It is 
rebuilding the facilities used to make those weapons.
    U.N. inspectors believe that Iraq could have produced enough 
biological and chemical agent to kill millions of people. The regime has 
the scientists and facilities to build nuclear weapons and is seeking 
the materials needed to do so.
    We know the methods of this regime. They buy time with hollow 
promises. They move incriminating evidence to stay ahead of inspectors. 
They concede just enough to escape--to escape punishment and then 
violate every pledge when the attention of the world is turned away.
    We also know the nature of Iraq's dictator. On his orders, opponents 
have been decapitated and their heads displayed outside their homes. 
Women have been systematically raped as a method of intimidation. 
Political prisoners are made to watch their own children being tortured. 
The dictator is a student of Stalin, using murder as a tool of terror 
and control within his own cabinet, within his own army, even within his 
own family. We will not leave the future of peace and the security of 
America in the hands of this cruel and dangerous man.
    None of us here today desire to see military conflict, because we 
know the awful nature of war. Our country values life and never seeks 
war unless it is essential to security and to justice. America's 
leadership and willingness to use force, confirmed by the Congress, is 
the best way to ensure compliance and avoid conflict. Saddam must 
disarm, period. If, however, he chooses to do otherwise, if he persists 
in his defiance, the use of force may become unavoidable.
    The course of action may bring many sacrifices. Yet delay, 
indecision, and inaction could lead to a massive and sudden horror. By 
timely and resolute action, we can defend ourselves and shape a peaceful 
future. Together with the Congress, I will do everything necessary to 
protect and defend our country.
    In accepting this responsibility, we also serve the interests and 
the hopes of the Iraqi people. They are a great and gifted people, with 
an ancient and admirable culture, and they would not choose to be ruled 
by violence and terror. The people of Iraq are the daily victims of 
Saddam Hussein's oppression. They will be the first to benefit when the 
world's demands are met. Americans believe all men and women deserve to 
be free. And as we saw in the fall of the Taliban, men and women 
celebrate freedom's arrival.
    The United States will work with other nations. We'll work with 
other nations to bring Saddam to account. We'll work with other nations 
to help the Iraqi people form a just government and a unified country. 
And should force be required, the United States will help rebuild a 
liberated Iraq.
    Countering Iraq's threat is also a central commitment on the war on 
terror. We know Saddam Hussein has longstanding and ongoing ties to 
international terrorists. With the support and shelter of a regime, 
terror groups become far more lethal. Aided by a terrorist network, an 
outlaw regime can launch attacks while concealing its involvement. Even 
a dictator is not suicidal, but he can make use of men who are. We must 
confront both terror cells and terror states, because they are different 
faces of the same evil.
    I brought this issue to the attention of the world, and many, many 
countries share our determination to confront this threat. We're not 
alone. The issue is now before the United States Congress. This debate 
will be closely watched by the American people, and this debate will be 
remembered in history. We didn't ask for this challenge as a country, 
but we will face it, and we will face it together.
    As the vote nears, I urge all Members of Congress to consider this 
resolution with the greatest of care. The choice before them could not 
be more consequential. I'm confident that members of both parties will 
choose wisely.
    I appreciate Members of Congress who are willing to address you all, 
starting with the Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert.

[At this point, Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Representative Richard A. 
Gephardt, Senator John W. Warner, Senator Joseph I.

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Lieberman, and Senator John McCain made brief remarks.]

    The President. Thank you all for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 1:15 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. 
The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also 
included the remarks of Speaker Hastert, Representative Gephardt, 
Senator Warner, Senator Lieberman, and Senator McCain. The Office of the 
Press Secretary also made available the text of the Joint Resolution To 
Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq. The Office 
of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of 
these remarks.