Washington: Only full disarmament by Saddam Hussein can avert war at this point, US
President George W Bush told the media on February 25, on the occasion of a meeting
with his National Economic Council.
"The man has been told to disarm," said Bush. "For the sake of peace, he must
completely disarm. I suspect we will see him playing games; the world will say
disarm, and he will all of a sudden find a weapon that he claimed he did not have."
Bush added a warning to the Iraqi leadership and generals. "If they take innocent
life or destroy infrastructure, they will be treated as war criminals," he said.
Asked whether the outcome of any UN Security Council vote would have any effect on
whether or not the US goes to war on Iraq, Bush said "Obviously we would like to
have a positive vote. That is why we have submitted a Security Council resolution,
along with Great Britain and Spain.
"But as I have said all along, it would be helpful and useful, but I don't believe
we need a second resolution. Saddam Hussein has not disarmed. He may play like he is
going to disarm, but he has not disarmed. And for the sake of peace and the security
of the American people, he must disarm."
War, said Bush, is his last choice, for "any time you put a troop into harm's way,
that in itself is a sacrifice." That is why he has said all along he would hope that
the world would come together to convince Saddam to make the decision to disarm, he
added.
PTI
