President George W. Bush addressed the nation Monday, in what was regarded as his most important policy speech since addressing the events of Sept. 11.
The speech was to explain his position on Iraq and to ask the American people to support United Nation arms-inspections in Iraq. Where in the past, Bush was seen as being dead set on a war with Iraq, the speech shifted his stance.
“The message was considerably toned down and changed,” said Dr. Jean-Robert Leguey-Feilleux, political science professor and Middle Eastern affairs expert at Saint Louis University.
Bush satisfied the international community by agreeing to inspections over direct military action.
“Saddam Hussein is a threat to peace and must disarm,” Bush said. “The Iraqi dictator must not be permitted to threaten America and the world with horrible poisons and diseases and gases and atomic weapons.”
However, if the United Nations Security Council does not provide a resolution that is not strong in the eyes of Bush, he may be poised to use military force against Saddam.
“We will plan carefully, we will act with the full power of the United States Military,” Bush said.
Throughout the speech, Bush cited reasons as to why Iraq is a threat to national and international security. He noted the attempts by Saddam to acquire the materials for creating a nuclear weapon, the illegal trading of oil with neighboring countries and human rights abuses within Iraq’s borders.
Leguey-Feilleux explained Bush’s sudden shift based on the fact that many people are asking why America should take immediate military action.
“He [Bush] is showing himself to be more reasonable,” Leguey-Feilleux said. He also explained that the timing of a military action may not have an overall effect on the prevention of a terrorist attack on the U.S. mainland.
“He [Saddam] knows that we can conquer him and that we can destroy Iraq,” Leguey-Feilleux said. “He could use biological weapons at any time, regardless of military action.”
Earlier this week Bush won a political victory on Capitol Hill when House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) claimed they would support a resolution authorizing the president to use force against Iraq.
