Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his two sons, Uday and Qusay, have 48 hours to step down from power and leave Iraq or face the threat of U.S. military action, U.S. President George W. Bush said last night (see GSN, March 18).

“All the decades of deceit and cruelty have now reached an end.  Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours,” Bush said in a televised address to the nation.  “Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict, commenced at a time of our choosing,” he said.

In his remarks, Bush indicated that previous U.N. resolutions gave the United States the legal authority to use force to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.  The United States, the United Kingdom and Spain yesterday withdrew a proposed resolution on Iraq from U.N. Security Council consideration.

“The United States and our allies are authorized to use force in ridding Iraq of weapons of mass destruction,” Bush said.  “This is not a question of authority.  It is a question of will,” he said.

Bush also issued veiled criticism of France and Russia, two permanent Security Council members who had publicly indicated their intention to veto any resolution that could authorize military action.  British U.N. Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock yesterday cited France’s veto threat as one reason the resolution was withdrawn.

“These governments share our assessment of the danger, but not our resolve to meet it,” Bush said of the permanent Security Council members opposed to a new resolution, declining to name them.

Bush laid the blame for the failure to disarm Hussein on the Security Council itself.  “The United Nations Security Council has not lived up to its responsibilities.  So we will rise to ours,” he said.

Noting that many people in Iraqi were able to hear his remarks through a translated broadcast, Bush promised the United States would provide humanitarian aid and help rebuild the post-Hussein Iraq.

“If we must begin a military campaign, it will be directed against the lawless men who rule your country and not against you,” Bush said in his remarks aimed at the Iraqi population.  “As our coalition takes away their power, we will deliver the food and medicine you need.  We will tear down the apparatus of terror, and we will help you to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free,” he said.

Bush also warned Iraqi military and civilian personnel to not obey orders calling for the sabotage of oil facilities or the use of weapons of mass destruction, promising war crimes prosecutions for those who chose to do so.

“War crimes will be prosecuted.  War criminals will be punished,” Bush said.  “And it will be no defense to say ‘I was just following orders,’” he said (White House release, March 18).

Reaction on Capitol Hill

Members of Congress were mixed in their reactions to Bush’s speech, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner (R-Va.) said that while he doubted Hussein would voluntarily leave Iraq, he praised Bush for “giving him this one last, clear option.”

Senator Joseph Biden (D-Del.) said he was sure Bush would make a second address to the nation, “the going to war speech,” if Hussein did not step down.

The Bush administration is expected to send a request to Congress as early as Friday for as much as $90 billion to fund a war with Iraq, congressional and White House aides said. 

Representative John Lewis (D-Ga.) said that while he still opposed war, he would support U.S. troops.

“I am against the rush to war,” Lewis said in a statement.  “I believe that our president has an obligation to give diplomacy more time.  However, I will stand behind our troops regardless of what happens.  Our brave men and women positioned in the Persian Gulf deserve our unconditional support,” he added.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) offered harsh criticism for Bush, saying he failed “miserably” at diplomacy, resulting in war.

“I’m saddened, saddened that this president failed so miserably at diplomacy that we’re now forced to war,” Daschle said in a speech to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, “saddened that we have to give up one life because this president couldn’t create the kind of diplomatic effort that was so critical for our country” (Shepard/Lindell, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 18).

Iraqi Response

Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri yesterday rejected any idea that Hussein would go into exile and instead called for Bush to resign.

“He should go away from the presidency and let the Americans lead an ordinary life with other nations, not a life of aggression, a policy of aggression against other nations,” Sabri said prior to Bush’s speech.  “This policy has brought about disasters to the U.S.  So for the U.S. to live properly with the world and for the world nations to live in peace, this crazy man should go,” Sabri added (CNN.com, March 18),

Many analysts, and even some White House officials, have said it is highly unlikely that Hussein will choose to step down.

Instead, the Iraqi leader will probably attempt to hide in one of his many bunkers or in the home of an Iraqi family, officials and analysts said.  Hussein was reported to have used these two strategies during the 1991 Gulf War, according to the Boston Globe.  Even if the Iraqi security services turn against Hussein, he still might attempt to hide in one of the many bunkers unknown even to those closest to him, analysts said (Geneive Abdo, Boston Globe, March 18).

Blows to Blair

In the United Kingdom, three British ministers resigned yesterday over the apparent decision to go to war with Iraq without U.N. approval, according to the London Telegraph.

The first was former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, leader of the House of Commons.  In a statement last night, Cook said the United Kingdom was heading to war without international support and questioned the claims that Hussein still possessed weapons of mass destruction.

In his resignation letter, Cook praised British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s “heroic” attempt to obtain a new resolution within the Security Council, saying it was not the British government’s fault that such an effort failed.

For his part, Blair said Cook had been a “good friend and colleague” and that he regretted that Cook would not be part of the government “that leads the country through this difficult and dangerous crisis” (George Jones, London Telegraph, March 18).

In addition to Cook, two other ministers have also resigned — Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, junior health minister; and John Denham, Home Office minister, according to the Telegraph.

“I’m under no illusion about the nature of the regime led by Saddam Hussein.  I recognize the tremendous efforts made by the prime minister and other ministers to try and secure a second resolution,” Lord Hunt said after his resignation.  “But I do not feel we are justified in taking pre-emptive action without broad international support, or the clear support of the British people.  I’m also concerned about the long-term consequences for international stability of such pre-emptive action,” he said (London Telegraph, March 18).

The British Parliament is expected to vote today on a resolution that would authorize the use of “all means necessary” to disarm Iraq.  As many as 160 of the 411 Labor Party members of Parliament, however, could choose to instead vote for an amendment that says there is no justification for war, according to the Globe and Mail.

“A large number of colleagues, many of whom loyally supported the government last time, are now deeply unhappy about what they see as Britain going to war without sufficient cause on the coattails of the United States, and without proper United Nations authorization,” said Chris Smith, a Labor member of Parliament and a war opponent (Alan Freeman, Globe and Mail, March 18).

French Reaction

France said today that the international community does not support the U.S. 48-hour deadline for Hussein to step down.

“This unilateral decision is contrary to the wishes of the Security Council and of the international community, who wish to pursue the disarmament of Iraq in accordance with (U.N.) resolution 1441,” said a statement released by the office of French President Jacques Chirac.  “Whatever the objective pursued, France recalls that only the Security Council has the authority to justify the use of force,” the statement said (Al-Bawaba, March 18).

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