UNITED NATIONS, 22 September 2004 — President George W. Bush defended the Iraq war before skeptical world leaders yesterday, called on them to help post-Saddam Iraq develop into a democracy and vowed not to retreat against an insurgency that threatens more violence in the country.
In a UN speech with election-year overtones, Bush made no apologies about his decision to go to war against Iraq in 2003 without UN Security Council backing based on claims Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, which were not found.
In fact, he reminded the General Assembly of the Security Council’s failure to join with the US-led coalition in carrying out its threat in a resolution passed unanimously before the war of serious consequences for Iraq for disobeying UN resolutions.
“The commitments we make must have meaning,” Bush said. “When we say serious consequences for the sake of peace, there must be serious consequences.”
Bush predicted more violence in the days ahead as both Iraq and Afghanistan attempt to hold national elections — next month in Afghanistan, and in January in Iraq. “The work ahead is demanding. But these difficulties will not shake our conviction that the future of Afghanistan and Iraq is a future of liberty. The proper response to difficulty is not to retreat — it is to prevail,” he said.
He cast the Iraq conflict as a moment of opportunity for transforming the Middle East and in a direct challenge to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, urged Israel to impose a freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza and to dismantle “unauthorized outposts.”
“Israel should impose a settlement freeze, dismantle unauthorized outposts, end the daily humiliation of the Palestinian people, and avoid any actions that prejudice final negotiations. And world leaders should withdraw all favor and support from any Palestinian ruler who fails his people and betrays their cause,” Bush said.
Bush had a domestic audience as well. His re-election campaign has pitched the Iraq war as an extension of the war on terrorism, drawing support from many Americans anxious to avoid a repeat of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
“Coalition forces now serving in Iraq are confronting the terrorists and foreign fighters, so peaceful nations around the world will never have to face them within our own borders,” Bush said.
Bush got no more than polite applause at the end of his speech.
