<

Bush Calls Iraqi Offer a 'Ploy'
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

“Oh, all they've got to do is look at the record. It's his latest ploy, his latest attempt not to be held accountable for defying the United Nations. He's not going to fool anybody. I mean, he is -- we've seen him before. And we'll remind the world that by defying the United Nations he is becoming more and more threat to world peace. And I'm convinced that the world understands the ploy. And one of the jobs the United States has is to remind people about not only the threat, but the fact that his defiance has weakened the United Nations. And the United Nations, in order for the world to be a more peaceful place, must rise up and deal with this threat and hold him to account. And that's what we expect out of the Security Council.”

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
President Bush said Saddam Hussein's offer to let U.N. inspectors back into Iraq is "his latest ploy," and said a strong U.N. resolution was still necessary.

Bush spoke following a breakfast meeting with members of Congress. "We talked about … how it was important for us to work with Congress to pass a strong resolution," he said. "I told the members that within the next couple days, this administration will develop language that we think is necessary, and we look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to get a resolution passed."

Staffers on the House Armed Services Committee said they expect a congressional resolution before the November election.

The Bush administration is also working with U.N. Security Council members on a resolution that will make Iraq live up to past resolutions, set deadlines for that compliance and specify options available to the world body.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Related Story:
* President Discusses Iraq, Domestic Agenda with Congressional Leaders
The Oval Office
Wednesday, September 18, 2002

Dan