President speaks on Iraq situation Monday, October 7 @ 8 pm EDT

[quade 4]

President speaks on Iraq situation Monday, October 7 @ 8 pm EDT.

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Background
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October 4, 2002
Press Gaggle by Ari Fleischer
Aboard Air Force One
En route Boston, Massachusetts

11:13 A.M. EDT

Quote

MR. FLEISCHER: Final announcement, and then I have the week ahead, we can do that whenever you want to. As Congress begins an important week in which it is expected to vote on the President's proposed resolution to authorize the use of force in Iraq, the President will speak to the nation Monday night in Cincinnati about the threat of Saddam Hussein and Iraq present to world peace.

The President thinks the nation and the Congress will benefit from a discussion of the issues involved and the important moment our nation faces. The speech will be at 8:00 p.m., at the Cincinnati Museum Center. And that will be Monday, Cincinnati.

Q Does he plan to have any new information about Iraq, any new argument?

MR. FLEISCHER: Well, let me put it this way, I think it's going to be a newsworthy speech. Obviously, you all will be there and you can make your own judgements about what is new, etc. But I think it will be a notable and newsworthy speech.

Q Is it a forum where he'll be taking questions? I mean, why Cincinnati? Why not do it from the Oval?

MR. FLEISCHER: It's a speech to a seated audience, it's going to be some 400 to 500 people. It's hosted by the Chamber of Congress, in conjunction with the United Way and the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati.

And the President looks at the debate that is about to begin in the Congress and the vote that is about to take place in the Congress as a part of the great tradition of America's democracy, in which the people's elected representatives speak from their heart, speak on the basis of principle. And whether they agree or disagree with the President, they inform the public about their views and why they hold those views.

And the President sees this as his role as President to similarly speak to the country through this audience in a way that is thoughtful, that is deliberative, so that the issues that the country is asking itself can be addressed by its elected leaders, including the President.

We are not asking the networks for time. We are doing this at 8:00 p.m. at night because the President wants people to know what he is saying. But, again, I think it will be a newsworthy speech. But just so you understand the levels in which Presidents give speeches, it is not a speech in which he is asking the networks for time.

Q Can this be prepared to the speech he made in Atlanta, remember, on -- what was that, on homeland security at the time?

MR. FLEISCHER: I think that's a very good comparison.

Q It's obviously, the, we're not looking for any announcement on war, whether or not we're committing American troops. It's not that level of an Oval Office asking for time speech?

MR. FLEISCHER: This is not an Oval Office address to the nation.

Q Ari, should we expect to hear in that speech any arguments that those of us who have been traveling with the President, hearing him day in and day out have not heard before?

MR. FLEISCHER: Again, I'll just say I think it will be a notable, newsworthy speech and you'll make your own judgments at the time.

Q Primarily, he'd like to influence the debate in Congress; is that correct?

MR. FLEISCHER: well, the President thinks that, as Congress begins the debate and as they're about to vote, that it's important and it's helpful to members of Congress in both parties for them to hear what the President thinks in the full fashion that a speech like this affords. So I think it is fair to say that the President views this as a way to communicate to members of Congress and to communicate to the country.

As a primer, HERE is the latest CIA report about Iraq's Weapons of Mass Distruction.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[nws01 0]

He and his father has been in our neck of the woods fly fishing all weekend. I believe everything he does is because his father recommends it. The U.S. is back to the early 90's again when the previous Bush was President.

[quade 4]

Then I believe it's also important to remind folks that GWB's father, former President George Bush was Director of Central Intelligence and head of the Central Intelligence Agency from 30 January 1976 to 20 January 1977.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[nws01 0]

Quade, he has also completed an AFF Skydive! That earns him points!

[quade 4]

Oh, I have a lot of respect for GHWB. I didn't vote for GHWB, but I respect him for his intelligence. Smart man, quick on his feet. Can't say the same about GWB.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[ramon 0]

Sometimes GWB seems like he is "ad libbing" his speeches", or adding sentences in to speeches written for him. Maybe they're specifically written that way but makes him seem much less intelligent than daddy Warbucks.

r

"Revolution is an abrupt change in the form of misgovernment.", Ambrose Bierce.

[quade 4]

I seriously doubt that they're written that way.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[indyz 1]

Yeah, the one where he couldn't remember "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me" really made me laugh. They way he tried and came up short a couple of times before he just made something up gave me flashbacks to when I had to recite Shakespeare in high school english.

[quade 4]

Additionally --

Quote

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 — As he prepared for a speech to the nation on the possibility of war with Iraq, President Bush got strong support Sunday from an unusual source: the top Senate Democrat, Majority Leader Tom Daschle. “I don’t know that we have any other choice” but war if Iraqi President Saddam Hussein doesn’t destroy any weapons of mass destruction he might have, Daschle told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Full story HERE.

BTW, my money is still on November 6 as the date it starts.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[indyz 1]

I think they should just go ahead with the proposed duel.

[quade 4]

Additional --

Quote

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 — As President Bush prepared over the weekend to announce his case against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Congressional leaders said Sunday that a resolution authorizing war against Iraq is expected to pass with little dissent and will strengthen the United States’ hand at the United Nations. Bush’s Monday night address will take place on the one-year anniversary of the start of bombing in Afghanistan.

Full story HERE.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[howardwhite 6]

Well, GWB managed to shut down Skydive New England (Lebanon, ME) Sunday because it was within the 30-mile no-fly zone of Kennebunkport.

(Other NE DZs benefited.)

HW

[quade 4]

It's no secret that I'm not a big fan of GWB, but I gotta say, that was probably the best I've ever seen him do as far as looking and sounding like a President.

Generally speaking he came off very well with a calm demeanor and point-by-point explanation of the reasons we should be dealing with the situation and what all of the options are.

I only caught one really bad slip-up in the speech that can be misread by the Iraqi people and definitely will be used against him by the Iraqi press -- the section about the Iraqi people being freed to enjoy the modern world by our changing the current regime.

Quote

Freed from the weight of oppression, Iraq's people will be able to share in the progress and prosperity of our time.

Generally speaking, they don't want to join the modern world -- they want an idealized world from the time of Muhammad and they don't want us telling them how they -should- be leading their lives.

Other than that, I thought he did -very- well.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[billvon 3,120]

>the section about the Iraqi people being freed to enjoy the modern
> world by our changing the current regime.

I was also listening for something else I didn't hear. Is Bush proposing that if Hussein complies with UN resolutions, there will be no US push for a regime change? It's sort of a critical question, because if Hussein thinks that regime change is going to be pursued no matter what, he has an extremely valid reason for keeping US inspectors out of government areas - "the US said they want to assassinate (or at least depose) me; I have a right to protect myself from that." Even the most anti-arab UN member is going to see the logic in that.

[quade 4]

Quote

Is Bush proposing that if Hussein complies with UN resolutions, there will be no US push for a regime change?

I believe these are the basic conditions as stated in the speech;

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And these resolutions are clear. In addition to declaring and destroying all of its weapons of mass destruction, Iraq must end its support for terrorism. It must cease the persecution of its civilian population. It must stop all illicit trade outside the Oil For Food program. It must release or account for all Gulf War personnel, including an American pilot, whose fate is still unknown.

By taking these steps, and by only taking these steps, the Iraqi regime has an opportunity to avoid conflict. Taking these steps would also change the nature of the Iraqi regime itself. America hopes the regime will make that choice. Unfortunately, at least so far, we have little reason to expect it. And that's why two administrations -- mine and President Clinton's -- have stated that regime change in Iraq is the only certain means of removing a great danger to our nation.

Further, I believe the Admisistration has already considered what Hussein might do;

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I hope this will not require military action, but it may. And military conflict could be difficult. An Iraqi regime faced with its own demise may attempt cruel and desperate measures. If Saddam Hussein orders such measures, his generals would be well advised to refuse those orders. If they do not refuse, they must understand that all war criminals will be pursued and punished. If we have to act, we will take every precaution that is possible. We will plan carefully; we will act with the full power of the United States military; we will act with allies at our side, and we will prevail.

I think if Hussein wants to remain alive, he should probably step down and go into voluntary exile immediately. Otherwise, I believe he's already a deadman no matter if he disarms or not.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[billvon 3,120]

>I believe these are the basic conditions as stated in the speech;

Well, yeah, but he also said:

"And that's why two administrations -- mine and President Clinton's -- have stated that regime change in Iraq is the only certain means of removing a great danger to our nation."

That sure sounds like there is no question that he will pursue it.

>Further, I believe the Admisistration has already considered what
> Hussein might do;

"If they do not refuse, they must understand that all war criminals will be pursued and punished. "

Ironic, considering Bush recently refused to sign a UN war-crimes treaty that would allow easier extradition and punishment of war criminals.

>I think if Hussein wants to remain alive, he should probably step
> down and go into voluntary exile immediately. Otherwise, I believe
> he's already a deadman no matter if he disarms or not.

And that's what worries me. If Hussein believes that, why not unload with everything he's got at the best possible opportunity? (say, when there are the most possible americans in country.) He has absolutely nothing to lose. He doesn't even have any incentive to comply with inspections - we have all but stated we want him dead.