“I will keep them close to my vest. President Saddam Hussein needs to understand I am serious about defending our country.”
-George W. Bush

Military attack on Iraq possible option
Bush says Iraqi president needs to see he’s serious
By Barry Schweid
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — President Bush on Wednesday left open the option of a military attack on Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein. Bush said the Iraqi president “needs to understand I am serious.”

A senior U.S. official told The Associated Press that Bush’s top advisers and agencies of the government had been directed to develop and refine a full range of options.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the recommendations would then be circulated within the government and sent to the White House so Bush could make a final decision.

After meeting with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Bush acknowledged that he is considering various options to deal with Saddam, but he would not disclose any details.

“I will keep them close to my vest,” Bush said. “President Saddam Hussein needs to understand I am serious about defending our country.”

Bush also said any alliance between terrorist organizations and terror-supporting nations with a history of pursuing nuclear or other destructive weapons would be “devastating for those of us who fight for freedom,” and the United States would not tolerate it.

“We, the free world, must make it clear to these nations they have a choice to make,” Bush said. “I will keep all options available if they don’t make the choice.”

CIA Director George Tenet is said to favor a plan that relies heavily on covert action, rather than an open military campaign.

In fact, the CIA already is authorized to try to destabilize the Baghdad government.
Secretary of State Colin Powell suggested Tuesday, apparently in jest, that “natural causes” might be the solution. Powell, 64, noted Saddam was the same age but said he did not appear to be in as good condition.

Powell and other senior administration officials said the preference is to bring down Saddam with political and diplomatic measures.

“The president is not asking for a war budget,” Powell told the Senate Budget Committee.

Referring to Iran and North Korea, as well as Iraq, Powell said: “As a prudence, we should be examining options with respect to all these countries, but in the first instance, diplomatic and political means.”

Powell has taken the lead in making the public case for ousting Saddam, telling Congress last week that the United States might have to act unilaterally to bring about a “regime change” in Baghdad. He frequently cites the Iraqi president’s refusal to expose suspect weapons sites to U.N. inspection. And Powell says the Iraqi people deserve a better government.

Most of Saddam’s senior advisers and his military commanders are considered to be loyal to him. He has executed others suspected of plotting a palace coup.

Bush linked North Korea, Iran and Iraq in an “axis of evil” in his State of the Union speech last month. But Powell said “he has no plan on his desk right now to begin a war with any nation.”

credits

TCU Daily Skiff © 2002