President says Iraq remains enemy until proven otherwise

(10 Aug 2002) 1. Bush walking up to reporters from golf course 2. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W Bush, US President "I'm in close consultation with my senior staff on a variety of subjects. As I said yesterday, I have no timetable for any of our policy as regards to Iraq. I spent time with my principal advisers on that subject as well as others. Well, I described them as the axis of evil once, I describe them as an enemy until proven otherwise. They obviously desire weapons of mass destruction. I presume that he still views us as an enemy. I have constantly said that we owe it to our children and our children's children to free the world from weapons of mass destruction in the hands of those who hate freedom. This is a man who has poisoned his own people. He's had a history of tyranny. Most people understand he is a danger, and as I've said in speech after speech, I've got a lot of tools at my disposal and I've also said I'm a deliberate person and so we're in the process of consulting not only with Congress, as I did the other day, but with friends and allies and the consultation process is a positive part of really allowing people to fully understand our deep concern about this man, his regime and his desire to have weapons of mass destruction. (Q Are you prepared for casualties in Iraq?) That presumes there's some kind of imminent plan. As I said, I have no timetable but I do believe what the American people understand is that weapons of mass destruction in the hands of leaders such as Saddam Hussein are very dangerous for ourselves, our allies, they understand the concept of blackmail, they know that when we speak of making the world more safe we do so not only in the context of al-Qaida and other terrorist groups, but nations that have proven themselves to be bad neighbours and bad actors." 3. Bush walks away, gets into golf buggy and drives away STORYLINE: President George Bush on Saturday branded Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein "an enemy until proven otherwise". Bush reaffirmed that he had no timetable for deciding on a military strike against Iraq or "for any of our policies in regard to Iraq" and said he continued consultations with Congress and US allies. He added he spent much time discussing US options with his principal policy advisors. The president, speaking to reporters just before a round of golf in Texas, said Saddam had "a history of tyranny. I think most people understand he is a danger." Bush made clear, as he did in public speeches, that he had many tools to help the United States deal with Iraq. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...