[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 11 (Monday, March 17, 2003)]
[Pages 313-314]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 Sheik Mohammed. 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 the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on March 8. The 
transcript was made available by the Office

[[Page 314]]

of the Press Secretary on March 7 but was embargoed for release until 
the broadcast. In his remarks, the President referred to Khalid Sheik 
Mohammed, senior Al Qaida leader responsible for planning the September 
11 attack, who was captured in Pakistan on March 1; 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.