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Bush
said he had no idea whether Osama bin Laden was alive
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WASHINGTON,
July 9 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – U.S. President George W.
Bush vowed Monday, July 8, to use “all tools” at his disposal to
oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein but declined to say whether that
goal would be achieved by the end of his first term.
Speaking
at a surprise news conference, the president said that the world would
be a safer place once Saddam had been overthrown and said he was
personally engaged in “all aspects” of planning to achieve that
goal, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
“It’s
a stated policy of this government to have regime change. And it
hasn’t changed. And we’ll use all tools at our disposal to do
so,” Bush told reporters.
But
the U.S. leader declined to answer the question of whether regime
change in Iraq will be a reality before the end of his first term, in
late January 2005, saying: “It’s hypothetical.”
The
Bush administration has repeatedly threatened to topple Saddam’s
regime, which it accuses of developing weapons of mass destruction.
The
New York Times reported Friday, June 5, that a top secret U.S.
military document outlines a massive, three-pronged attack on Iraq by
land, sea and air with as many as 250,000 troops and hundreds of
warplanes.
Bush,
clearly unhappy at the report, which he attributed to some low-level
official “flexing some know-how muscle,” said that people
“shouldn’t speculate about the desire of the government to have a
regime change.”
But
he also indicated that there is no urgency to act and that while the
military option is one of a number being considered, there are
“different ways to do it.”
“But
in my remarks to the American people, I remind them I’m a patient
person,” he said.
“But
I do firmly believe that the world will be safer and more peaceful if
there’s a regime change in that government.”
Bush
highlighted his personal engagement in the planning for Saddam’s
ouster. “I am involved. I mean, I’m involved in the military plan,
diplomatic planning, financial planning - all aspects of - reviewing
all the tools at my disposal,” he said.
Regarding
the so-called “war on terror”, Bush signaled “good progress”
against alleged terrorist, saying “we’re rounding people up slowly
but surely. We’re disrupting networks ...we’re just patiently
hunting them down.”
Bush said that Osama bin Laden is no longer a key focus of the U.S.
war on terrorism, which is “a lot bigger than one person.” Bush
added he had no idea whether the alleged September 11 mastermind was
dead or alive.
“Osama
bin Laden, he may be alive. If he is, we’ll get him. If he’s not
alive, we got him.”
The
president urged Congress to join him in achieving three goals: to win
the war on terrorism, to protect the homeland and to strengthen the
economy.
He
chided Congress for failing to act for four months to approve funding
for the armed forces and strengthening security at airports.
“Congress
simply must fund our troops while they’re fighting a war. And
Congress must provide the funds to improve security at our
airports,” he said.
He
urged Congress to approve enhanced trade negotiation authority which
he said would create wealth a jobs and also to act on his energy
proposals to reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil.
Addressing
the situation in the Middle East, Bush reported “progress” in
efforts to bring about reform of the Palestinian Authority, which he
has put forward as a pre-condition for the establishment of a
Palestinian state.
“I
believe some progress is being made towards the institutions that I
have talked about that are necessary for a Palestinian state to emerge
which will give us all confidence in its ability to fight off
terrorist activities,” Bush said.
He
also said that as “security improves” in the Middle East, he would
urge the Israelis to allow for more freedom of movement by the
Palestinian people.
Turning
to internal U.S. affairs, Bush promised the government would
vigorously pursue corporate leaders who break the law as a series of
company scandals gnaws at business confidence in the United States and
abroad.
“We
will vigorously pursue people who break the law. I think that will
help restore confidence to the American people,” Bush said.
“I
am very worried about a country that has - could conceivably - lose
confidence in the free enterprise system.”
He
said most CEOs were honest but rotten apples needed to be held
accountable.
He
said that in a speech on corporate responsibility he is to deliver
Tuesday, July 9, he will ask for more powers “for a stronger SEC -
more investigators and more budget.”
Bush was also quick to defend himself as he denied any impropriety in
his own business dealings a decade ago when he was a Texan oil
executive. Bush was investigated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) for his tardy filings of disclosure forms relating to
sale of stock in a firm on whose board he served. The SEC found no
wrongdoing, he insisted.
“The
SEC fully looked into the matter they looked at all aspects of it,”
he claimed. “The people that looked into it said there is no
case.”
