Washington: Taking anti-Saddam Hussein rhetoric to new heights, US has called the
Iraq President a "terrorist" and said America will "go after him" in the event of a
war.
"Well, certainly Saddam is the dictator of a state that is on the US terrorist list,
so I see nothing that would indicate he is anything but a terrorist," White House
spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters in response to a question whether the Bush
Administration considers Saddam Hussein to be a terrorist.
On whether US will go after him "overtly" as in the case of al-Qaida chief Osama bin
Laden, Fleischer said "Yes. If force is used (to disarm Iraq), you can assume we
will obviously not carve out a safety zone for Saddam Hussein".
Fleischer, who was holding his briefing the day before the anticipated arrival of a
Papal envoy to persuade US President George W Bush against a war, said, "The
President looks forward to receiving and greeting the Papal emissary to find out
what message the Pope has on this topic."
The spokesman reminded Bush's earlier statement that he hopes Iraq issue can be
resolved peacefully, and that the onus lies on Saddam.
On Pope's comment that there is no moral or legal justification for war, Fleischer
said, "If there are those who differ with the President on this, he respects their
opinion, ideas and thoughts.
"The President listens carefully and, in the end, will make a judgment that he
thinks is best needed to protect the United States," Fleischer said.
Asked whether Bush sees a moral or legal justification for war, Fleischer countered
that Saddam has violated the UN Security Council resolutions and he is not following
the legal path that the world has set out to preserve peace.
PTI
