President George Bush signalled the beginning of the war against Iraq last night, announcing in an address to the nation that selected strikes had begun ”to disarm Iraq, to free its people, and to defend the world from grave danger”.
”On my orders, forces have begun striking select targets… to undermine Saddam Hussein’s ability to wage war,” Bush said. ”These are the opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign. More than 35 countries are giving crucial support… every nation has chosen to bear the duty and share the honour of serving in our common defence.”
The president’s remarks came minutes after early reports that the United States had launched a cruise missile strike at a ”leadership target”.
Speaking from the Oval Office of the White House, almost two and a quarter hours after the end of the 48-hour deadline he had set for President Saddam to go into exile or face a military invasion, Bush warned that conflict could be ”longer and more difficult than some expect”. But he promised a ”sustained commitment” to the people of Iraq and said the United States had ”no ambition in Iraq” other than to liberate a population and oust a tyrant.
”In this conflict, America faces an enemy who has no regard for the conventions of war or rules of morality,” Bush said. ”Saddam Hussein has placed his troops and equipment in civilian areas, attempting to use innocent men, women and children as shields for his military – a final atrocity against his people. I want America and all the world to know that coalition forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm…”
Addressing the US military, Bush said ”the peace of a troubled world and the hope of an oppressed people now depend on you. That trust is well placed. The enemy you confront will come to know your skill and bravery, the people you liberate will witness the honour and decent spirit of the American military.”
He added: ”Our nation enters this conflict reluctantly, yet our purpose is sure. The people of the United States, and our friends and allies, will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder.”
In conclusion, Bush told viewers: ”My fellow citizens, the dangers to our country and our world will be overcome. We will pass through this time of peril and carry on the work of peace. We will defend our freedom, we will bring freedom to others, and we will prevail.”
Shortly before 3am UK time, moments after air-raid sirens and then anti-aircraft fire was heard in the streets of Baghdad, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters: ”The opening stages of the disarmament of the Iraqi regime have begun. The president will address the nation at 10.15” – 3.15am UK time.
Mr Bush spent some of yesterday studying battle plans with a group including Donald Rumsfeld, the secretary of defence, then dined with the first lady, Laura Bush. He had just finished when when his chief of staff, Andrew Card, called to communicate that intelligence officials had received no information that the Iraqi leader had fled.
Earlier, Bush sent a formal letter to both houses of Congress, following Washington protocol, in order to inform them of his decision to use military force to disarm the Iraqi regime. He had taken the decision reluctantly, he told them, because diplomacy alone would be insufficient to guarantee the security of the United States and would probably not lead to the UN’s resolutions being enforced.
The war on Iraq was ”a vital part of the international war on terrorism”, the letter said.
When the deadline passed, initially to silence, at 1pm UK time, Mr Fleischer told reporters: ”The disarmament of the Iraqi regime will begin at a time of the president’s choosing… The American people are ready for the disarmament of Saddam Hussein. They understand what’s at stake. The military is ready, the nation is ready and the cause is just.
”In this conflict, America faces an enemy who has no regard for conventions of war or rules of morality. Saddam Hussein has placed Iraqi troops and equipment in civilian areas, attempting to use innocent men, women and children as shields for his own military – a final atrocity against his people.” – Guardian Unlimited Â