WASHINGTON, March 20 (Hina) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday evening he had ordered an attack on Iraq and that the coalition forces had started striking selected targets in order to undermine Saddam Hussein's ability
to wage war.
WASHINGTON, March 20 (Hina) - U.S. President George W. Bush said on
Wednesday evening he had ordered an attack on Iraq and that the
coalition forces had started striking selected targets in order to
undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to wage war. #L#
Bush addressed the American people from the White House Oval
Office, announcing the beginning of the war on Iraq.
"At this hour American and coalition forces are in the early stages
of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to
defend the world from grave danger," said Bush.
"These are the opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted
campaign."
Bush said that more than 35 countries were supporting the military
action in Iraq in various ways, from offering the use of air and
naval bases and providing intelligence data, to participating with
their own troops in the campaign.
President Bush said that in this conflict the U.S. was facing an
enemy which had no regard for conventions of war, and that Hussein
had deployed Iraqi troops and military equipment in populated
areas, "attempting to use innocent men, women and children as
shields for his own military". The coalition forces "will make
every effort to spare innocent civilians," said Bush.
He warned that the war against Iraq, a country the size of
California, "could be longer and more difficult than some predict,"
and said helping Iraqis "achieve a united, stable and free country"
would call for "sustained commitment" on the part of the U.S.
Speaking of the goals of the military action in Iraq, Bush said the
Americans did not come to conquer.
"We have no ambition in Iraq, except to remove a threat and restore
control of that country to its own people."
Bush reiterated the justification for the Iraq war was the U.S. wish
to protect itself from the hazard posed by weapons of mass
destruction in the hands of a dangerous regime.
"The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not
live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with
weapons of mass murder.
"We will meet that threat now with our Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast
Guard and Marines, so that we do not have to meet it later with
armies of firefighters and police and doctors on the streets of our
cities," said Bush.
"Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to
apply decisive force. And I assure you, this will not be a campaign
of half measures and we will accept no outcome but victory."
Bush addressed the nation less than two hours after the expiry of an
ultimate he had given Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to step down.
The U.S. President okayed the start of the attack on Wednesday
evening at the end of a three-hour meeting of his war council, which
also comprises Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the military
chief-of-staff, General Richard Myers.
The meeting wrapped some 45 minutes before the expiry of the
ultimatum -- 2 a.m. CET -- by which time Hussein was supposed to have
left his country.
Bush's associates said the war council considered the weather and
positions of ground troops, and that Bush acted on advice from
military commanders.
After making the decision to launch the attack, Bush reviewed the
text of his address to the nation and had dinner with his wife.
He was in the living room when he was informed that intelligence
indicated Hussein had not left Iraq, which had been one of the
demands from the U.S. ultimatum.
Bush then headed to the Oval Office where he addressed the nation
and announced the beginning of the action.
Ahead of the operation, he reviewed plans in a telephone
conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who had sent
more than 40,000 British troops to war.
Security around the White House has been tightened.
(hina) ha sb