September 26, 2002

The White House
For Immediate Release
September 26, 2002

Global Message

• The security of our country is the commitment of both political parties, and the responsibility of both elected branches of government.
  
  
• Elected officials are working for a strong Congressional resolution that sends a clear message: UN Security Council demands must be followed and the Iraqi dictator must be disarmed. These requirements will be met, or they will be enforced.
  
  
• The danger is grave and growing. The Iraqi regime possesses biological and chemical weapons and is rebuilding facilities to make more. It could launch a biological or chemical attack 45 minutes after the order is given. The regime is seeking a nuclear bomb -- and, with fissile material, could build one within a year.
  
  
• Iraq's regime has longstanding and continuing ties to terrorist groups -- there are al-Qaida terrorists inside Iraq. The regime also practices the rape of women and the torture of dissenters and their children as methods of intimidation.
  
  
• The President has made it clear: we refuse to live in a future of fear. We are determined to build a future of security and peace for the world.

Why is there even a contest? We impeached the last guy for lying in a context that didn't kill anyone. Now people are seriously contemplating re-electing this guy, now that thousands are dead? I just don't get it. I just don't.

And, in case you've lost track, the Iraqi dictator was already disarmed, the danger was diminishing, they didn't possess biological and chemical weapons, and they weren't rebuilding facilities to make more. They couldn't launch a biological or chemical attack within 45 minutes, and the regime wasn't actively seeking a nuclear bomb. Had they had the fissile material, which they didn't, it would have taken longer than a year to make one. They didn't have continuing ties to terrorist groups, and there weren't al-Quaida terrorists inside Iraq. Finally, the President and Vice-President have campaigned on a future of fear, not refused to live in one, and if determined to build a future of security and peace, they have only made us less secure, and sent us to a war we didn't need to fight.