The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
“Recognizing
the threat to our country, the United States Congress
voted
overwhelmingly
last year to support the use of force against Iraq. America tried
to
work with
the United Nations to address this threat because we wanted to
resolve
this issue
peacefully. We believe in the mission of the United Nations. One
reason
the UN was
founded … was to confront aggressive dictators, actively and early
…
“In the
case of Iraq, the Security Council did act, in the early 1990s.
Under
resolutions
678 and 687 – both still in effect – the United States and our
allies are
authorized
to use force in ridding Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. This
is not
a question
of authority, it is a question of will.”
868.
President Bush
continued that he had “urged the nations of the world to
unite
and bring
an end to this danger” and the Security Council had unanimously
passed
resolution
1441. But:
“… no
nation could possibly claim that Iraq has disarmed. And it will not
disarm
as long as
Saddam holds power as required … some permanent members of
the
Security
Council have publicly announced that they will veto any resolution
that
compels the
disarmament of Iraq. These governments share our assessment
of
the danger,
but not our resolve to meet it. Many nations … do have the resolve
and
fortitude
to act against this threat to peace … The United Nations Security
Council
has not
lived up to its responsibilities, so we will rise to
ours.”
869.
Issuing the
ultimatum, President Bush stated:
“In recent
days, some governments in the Middle East have been doing their
part.
They have
delivered public and private messages urging the dictator to
leave
Iraq, so
that disarmament can proceed peacefully. He has thus far refused.
All
the decades
of deceit and cruelty have now reached an end. Saddam
Hussein
and his
sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will
result
in military conflict
…”
870.
In a message
to Iraqis, President Bush stated:
“If we must
begin a military campaign, it will be directed against the lawless
men
who rule
your country and not against you … The day of your liberation is
near.
“… It is
not too late for the Iraqi military to act with honor and protect
your country
by
permitting the peaceful entry of Coalition forces to eliminate
weapons of
mass destruction
…”
871.
President Bush
explicitly warned all Iraqis against destroying oil wells or
using
weapons of
mass destruction: “War crimes will be prosecuted. War criminals
will
be punished.”
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