The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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Among the excerpts is: "to the extent the sanctions are hurting the Iraqi people, we're going to analyze that". ******************** Source: President George W. Bush, press conference, James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, 22 February 2001, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/02/20010222-7.html Q: How would you characterize sanctions that work, sir? THE PRESIDENT: Sanctions that work are sanctions that when a -- the collective will of the region supports the policy; that we have a coalition of countries that agree with the policy set out by the United States. To me, that's the most effective form of sanctions. Many nations in that part of the world aren't adhering to the sanction policy that had been in place, and as a result, a lot of goods are heading into Iraq that were not supposed to. And so, good sanction policy is one where the United States is able to build a coalition around the strategy. ******************** Source: President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair, joint press conference, Green Top Camp Dining Hall, Camp David, Maryland, 23 February 2001, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/02/20010226-1.html Q Mr. President, you talked about Secretary of State Powell going to the Middle East, looking for consensus on how to handle Saddam Hussein. We do know that there is a consensus that sanctions hurt the people of Iraq too much and perhaps Saddam Hussein not enough. Did the two of you discuss ways of changing the sanctions to make them tougher on him and a little less punishing for the people of Iraq? And, if not, how do you hope to keep the coalition together? You already have some NATO allies, even, who are questioning the value of the sanctions. THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's the work we've got to do. First, our beef is not with the people of Iraq; it's with Saddam Hussein. And, secondly, any time anybody suffers in Iraq, we're concerned about it. And I would, however, remind you that Saddam's got a lot of oil money and it would be helpful if he would apply it to helping his people. Having said that, to the extent the sanctions are hurting the Iraqi people, we're going to analyze that. Colin is really going to listen. He's going to solicit opinion from our friends and folks in the Middle East. And prior to formulation of any policy, we will have listened, and then I will, of course, consult with friends and allies such as the Prime Minister here, as we develop a policy that we hope and know will be more realistic. The Prime Minister said something interesting, though. A change in sanctions should not in any way, shape or form, embolden Saddam Hussein. He has got to understand that we are going to watch him carefully and, if we catch him developing weapons of mass destruction, we'll take the appropriate action. And if we catch him threatening his neighbors, we will take the appropriate action. A change in the sanction regime that is not working should not be any kind of signal whatsoever to him that he should cross any line of -- and test our will, because we're absolutely determined to make that part of the world a more peaceful place by keeping this guy in check. ******************** Source: President George W. Bush, remarks to U.S. aid workers released from Afghanistan, Rose Garden, 26 November 2001, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/11/20011126-1.html Q: Does Saddam Hussein have to agree to allow weapons inspectors back into Iraq? Is that an unconditional demand of yours? THE PRESIDENT: Saddam Hussein agreed to allow inspectors in his country. And in order to prove to the world he's not developing weapons of mass destruction, he ought to let the inspectors back in. Q: And if he doesn't, sir? THE PRESIDENT: Yes? Q: And if he does not do that, sir, what will be the consequence? If he does not do that, what will be the consequences? THE PRESIDENT: That's up for -- he'll find out. Q: Sir, what is your thinking right now about taking the war to Iraq? You suggested that on Wednesday, when you said Afghanistan was just the beginning. THE PRESIDENT: I stand by those words. Afghanistan is still just the beginning. If anybody harbors a terrorist, they're a terrorist. If they fund a terrorist, they're a terrorist. If they house terrorists, they're terrorists. I mean, I can't make it any more clearly to other nations around the world. If they develop weapons of mass destruction that will be used to terrorize nations, they will be held accountable. And as for Mr. Saddam Hussein, he needs to let inspectors back in his country, to show us that he is not developing weapons of mass destruction. ******************** Source: President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, remarks during photo opportunity, Oval Office, 16 January 2002 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020116-5.html Q What if Saddam Hussein doesn't let the -- inspectors? THE PRESIDENT: If he doesn't let them in? He'll find out. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk CASI's website - www.casi.org.uk - includes an archive of all postings.