A text of President Bush's speech to the United Nations

the White House

[shrinkermd]

A good speech and quite diplomatic and low-key considering the subject and the audience. I, for one, am tired of being sensitive, compassionate and concerned about the feelings of Islam.

A bunch of Moslems were whipped up by mad Mullahs and others and killed our citizens. No matter what they say, those are the facts. We should respond pre-emptively whenever it appears necessary. Screw the UN too! The first job of POTUS and the Congress is to protect American lives and property. If they don't do that, they are traitors and should be removed.

[stylin_geek]

Bush also pulled off a fabulous move, both moral and political.

His speech defined the morality of taking down Saddam, made the case to the U.N. and made the case to Congress.

One speech, several bases covered, rather than diluting the message by endlessly repeating it, it was done once, in front of the world.

I also do not think the placement of the last line in his speech was accidental, either. It summed up everything, and put the UN on notice.

[Uncle Miltie]

BRAVO!

[RonF]

I think this is diplomatic speak for "You are either with us, or against us, either way, we are going after Saddam Hussein."

Actually, sounds to me like, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way."

[RonF]

The people of Iraq can shake off their captivity. They can one day join a democratic Afghanistan and a democratic Palestine, inspiring reforms throughout the Muslim world.

This is not going to help get support in Mecca, Damascus, etc. The last thing they want is reform thoughout the Muslim world. Fortunately, none of them have a veto in the Security Council.

[RonF]

Note that Bush didn't justify military action on the basis that Saddam has fomented terrorism thoughout the world. Instead, he based it on Saddam's defiance of the UN. So, you will hear criticism that Bush still hasn't made the case that Saddam is responsible for terrorism throughout the world. And that's true. The question now is, is that relevant? Or is his continued and future defiance of UN resolutions enough to justify military action?

[hulltq1]

Will the United Nations serve the purpose of its founding or will it be irrelevant? Last year the Secretary-General's high-level coordinator of this issue reported that Kuwaiti, Saudi, Indian, Syrian, Lebanese, Iranian, Egyptian, Bahraini, and Omani nationals remain unaccounted for -- more than 600 people. One American pilot is among them.

[MattinNJ]

By heritage and by choice, the United States will make that stand

Absolutely moved me to tears with pride. God bless this man. To think how close we came to having Gore for President.

[hulltq1]

The United Nations has become Irrlevant.

[Dog Gone]

A great speech. It turned the tables on the UN.

Put up or be forever irrelevant.

Either way.

[ecomcon]

Great speech.

If I may, where did this text come from? What's with the typo's and misspelling? This is the official WH release?

[Far Right Of Left]

"To think how close we came to having Gore for President."
Thanks, I'm trying to eat...

[michigander]

I honestly don't remember. The first place I saw it posted.

Public school education?

That's what it says but I know I didn't get it at the WH site.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" Bill Clinton could never had delivered this speech."

This "near" Churchillian presentation "

Do you think it's dawned on clinton yet,that President Bush is getting world accolades for cleaning up clinton's messes?

[Boss_Jim_Gettys]

PING!

[Boss_Jim_Gettys]

Big thanks, FRiend.

[knak]

thanks, I missed it this morning, great speech

[Sabertooth]

The President's speech was magnificent. I'm not sure to what it compares. Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech, or Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech come to mind, but fall short.

If those speeches were perhaps more poetic, it's because poetry wasn't called for today. This was not a speech whose principle aim was to be memorable or inspiring, though it will be. Today's aim was force immediate, specific and unequivocal action on the part of both the United Nations and Iraq, and to gird America for the consequences either way.

Today's speech was like a legal brief, but a legal brief like artillery, designed to obliterate every wall of resistance before our armor rolls, and to leave the sympathizers with Saddam no platform for complaint when it does. That Iraq will ultimately resist is not in doubt, for in the grip of his megalomania, Saddam Hussein is pathologically unable to embrace any fate other than the fiery phantom of his idol, Nebuchadnezzar, and unable to lead Iraq to any destiny other than ruin.

President Bush has now given the United Nations a choice as a body: relevance or oblivion.

Either way, our armor will roll.

[Boss_Jim_Gettys]

"Will the United Nations serve the purpose of its founding or will it be irrelevant?"

I cannot believe this quote. Last night I told Mrs. Boss_Jim that while everyone was hoping the President would tell the U.N. they were either with us or against us (or some variation thereof), I was hoping he would say you are either with us or you are irrelevant.

I guess if you pray hard enough then good things shall come true!

God bless our President.