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Bush speech `not a declaration of war:` Powell
United Nations, Sept 13: US President George W Bush`s speech on Iraq was `not a declaration of war,` US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said after the President`s address before the UN General Assembly.
United Nations, Sept 13: US President George W Bush's speech on Iraq was "not a declaration of war," US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said after the President's address before the UN General Assembly.
"It was not a declaration of war. It was a statement to the United Nations that it is time to act. It is time to do something," Powell said during a talk at the national committee on American foreign policy, a New York-based think tank. Bush has been pressing for the use of military force to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, claiming that he is seeking to develop banned chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
World leaders and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned Bush not to act unilaterally without a resolution from the UN Security Council.
"We have to respond. The President made a clear call for response. The danger is real and present. The President gave a challenge to the United Nations today to respond," Powell said.
"The challenge has been put down. If the United Nations is to remain relevant, if the United Nations is to meet the founding purposes of its charter, this is a challenge we must not turn away from," he added.
Iraq's "tyrant leader, Saddam Hussein, has long made a unholy alliance with terrorists (...) he has defied United Nations resolutions (...) he has demonstrated time and again his aggressive intents," Powell said.
Bureau Report
"It was not a declaration of war. It was a statement to the United Nations that it is time to act. It is time to do something," Powell said during a talk at the national committee on American foreign policy, a New York-based think tank. Bush has been pressing for the use of military force to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, claiming that he is seeking to develop banned chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
World leaders and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan warned Bush not to act unilaterally without a resolution from the UN Security Council.
"We have to respond. The President made a clear call for response. The danger is real and present. The President gave a challenge to the United Nations today to respond," Powell said.
"The challenge has been put down. If the United Nations is to remain relevant, if the United Nations is to meet the founding purposes of its charter, this is a challenge we must not turn away from," he added.
Iraq's "tyrant leader, Saddam Hussein, has long made a unholy alliance with terrorists (...) he has defied United Nations resolutions (...) he has demonstrated time and again his aggressive intents," Powell said.
Bureau Report