Failure to act would embolden other tyrants, allow terrorists access to new weapons and new resources, and make blackmail a permanent feature of world events. The United Nations would betray the purpose of its founding, and prove irrelevant to the problems of our time. And through its inaction, the United States would resign itself to a future of fear.
That is not the America I know. That is not the America I serve. We refuse to live in fear. (Applause.) This nation, in world war and in Cold War, has never permitted the brutal and lawless to set history's course. Now, as before, we will secure our nation, protect our freedom, and help others to find freedom of their own.
Some worry that a change of leadership in Iraq could create instability and make the situation worse. The situation could hardly get worse, for world security and for the people of Iraq. The lives of Iraqi citizens would improve dramatically if Saddam Hussein were no longer in power, just as the lives of Afghanistan's citizens improved after the Taliban. The dictator of Iraq is a student of Stalin, using murder as a tool of terror and control, within his own cabinet, within his own army, and even within his own family.
On Saddam Hussein's orders, opponents have been decapitated, wives and mothers of political opponents have been systematically raped as a method of intimidation, and political prisoners have been forced to watch their own children being tortured.
America believes that all people are entitled to hope and human rights, to the non-negotiable demands of human dignity. People everywhere prefer freedom to slavery; prosperity to squalor; self-government to the rule of terror and torture. America is a friend to the people of Iraq. Our demands are directed only at the regime that enslaves them and threatens us. When these demands are met, the first and greatest benefit will come to Iraqi men, women and children. The oppression of Kurds, Assyrians, Turkomans, Shi'a, Sunnis and others will be lifted. The long captivity of Iraq will end, and an era of new hope will begin.
Iraq is a land rich in culture, resources, and talent. Freed from the weight of oppression, Iraq's people will be able to share in the progress and prosperity of our time. If military action is necessary, the United States and our allies will help the Iraqi people rebuild their economy, and create the institutions of liberty in a unified Iraq at peace with its neighbors.
Later this week, the United States Congress will vote on this matter. I have asked Congress to authorize the use of America's military, if it proves necessary, to enforce U.N. Security Council demands. Approving this resolution does not mean that military action is imminent or unavoidable. The resolution will tell the United Nations, and all nations, that America speaks with one voice and is determined to make the demands of the civilized world mean something. Congress will also be sending a message to the dictator in Iraq: that his only chance -- his only choice is full compliance, and the time remaining for that choice is limited.
BROWN: Our next guest recently spent some time in Iraq, looked around, talked to the people, came back with some questions about what the U.S. might have in store, if it does come to a fight. Nicholas Kristof is a columnist for "The New York Times," and we're glad to say no stranger to the program. We're glad he is back safely. Welcome.
NICHOLAS KRISTOF, COLUMNIST, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": Thank you.
BROWN: We like when guests bring stuff, too.
Show and tell.
BROWN: Particularly if it's money. This reminds me of, my father once a hundred years ago, it seems like, brought back all sorts of lira. He said here's 10 million lira. It was worth about a nickel. I gather that's what you brought in here.
KRISTOF: I was a millionaire in Iraqi Dinar. Each of these is worth about 10 cents. And you know, it's all in bundles of a hundred bills. So when I paid my hotel bill it was with a shopping bag with about 20 pounds of Dinah.
BROWN: Is it a country that believes that war is inevitable?
KRISTOF: Maybe not inevitable, but there is a strong sense that it is probably coming. There's a lot of fatalism about that. A lot of talk about that. A lot of nervousness.
BROWN: Are they a country that -- the president said, talked tonight about that they'll welcome the Americans in the way the Afghans welcomed the Americans in. Is that your impression?
KRISTOF: I think that's a complete misreading of the situation. I think that -- first of all, I should say it's very hard as a Westerner, there in Iraq to really get a clear understanding of what Iraqis think. But to the extent you can tell, you get a very strong sense, A -- that Iraqis don't like Saddam Hussein, that they think he has led them deeply astray, that he's impoverished the country, that they're very hostile to Saddam and his family.
But you also get the sense that they also dislike the U.S., distrust the U.S., they think the U.S. is after their oil. They blame the U.S. for sanctions. And I mean, fundamentally, I think you get the sense that Saddam's propaganda hasn't been effective in bolstering his own image, but it has been effective in tarnishing the U.S. image.
BROWN: It's a complicated place in that there are really three kind of distinct regions in the country with three distinct population groups. And we've talked a lot about the Kurds in the north. But there's this whole group in the south. What happens there if war comes?
KRISTOF: I mean, I think that a real headache will begin the day after Saddam is toppled because, historically, the 16 percent of the population that is Sunni Muslim, is basically around the country. And about 60 percent is Shiaa Muslim.
And there was an enormous rebellion in the south in 1991 after the Gulf War. This time, I think, the moment Saddam is toppled, these places are going to rebel again. There's going to be an uprising. Anybody associated with the regime is going to be, you know, lynched, essentially. And the question is what do we do?
BROWN: Is this Rwanda?
KRISTOF: It's not to that level. It's not exactly every Shiaa against every Sunni. But on the other hand, anybody associated with the regime in these places is going to be in enormous trouble. I think these guys are having sleepless nights thinking about it. And I think there will be a huge amount of bloodshed.
BROWN: You know, Saddam may not have learned the broad lesson about taking on the Americans and the world, but it does sound like he has learned one lesson about fighting the Americans, and that's not lay your army out in the desert to be picked at.
KRISTOF: That's right. I went down to Basra in the south and went from Basra down to the Kuwait border because that will probably be a key invasion route when the Americans go in, if they do. And there were no fortifications, no tanks, no troops in that whole area. And everybody you talk to say that they're not going to put their tanks out in the open. They're going to keep them in the cities. They're going to have their guns and all their defenses in the cities to make it very difficult for the U.S. to attack. You know, because we're not able to really bomb the cities without horrendous casualties.
BROWN: Do they count an American sense of, I don't know, morality?
KRISTOF: Yes. Absolutely. When I was there, I took a plane right through a no-fly zone. And I was nervous about, you know, are the Americans going to shoot down this plane? But every Iraqi around me was just cool as ice.
And they were -- I mean, they knew, and they were completely right, that of course the U.S. wouldn't shoot down a civilian plane going through a no-fly zone. And I think that's exactly Saddam's calculation, is by putting heavy artillery and guns in the cities. Especially in Baghdad and in his hometown of Tikrit (ph), which will probably be the main targets.
BROWN: I don't know, half a minute or so, maybe a little more. The newspapers you brought with you.
KRISTOF: Okay. This is a typical Iraqi paper. This is "Algom Haria" (ph), which is the republic. You know, Saddam right here. This is the English language version. You know, the lead headline is a story which, unfortunately, we missed in "The New York Times." President Hussein receives telegram.
BROWN: Why is there an English language paper at all?
KRISTOF: It's propaganda. I mean, it's to present to foreigners there. I might say that a lot of Iraqis get news via foreign radio. So they do have other sources.
BROWN: I can't imagine it was anything but a fascinating experience to have been there in this moment. It's nice to see you.
KRISTOF: Good to be here.
BROWN: I hope you'll come back and talk to us more about this.
KRISTOF: I'd be happy.
BROWN: Thank you. Nick Kristof of "The New York Times."
Let's take a short break, come back and hear what's on your minds, at least if you live in Chicago, about the possibility of war in Iraq. This is NEWSNIGHT.
Members of Congress are nearing an historic vote. I'm confident they will fully consider the facts, and their duties.
The attacks of September the 11th showed our country that vast oceans no longer protect us from danger. Before that tragic date, we had only hints of al Qaeda's plans and designs. Today in Iraq, we see a threat whose outlines are far more clearly defined, and whose consequences could be far more deadly. Saddam Hussein's actions have put us on notice, and there is no refuge from our responsibilities.
We did not ask for this present challenge, but we accept it. Like other generations of Americans, we will meet the responsibility of defending human liberty against violence and aggression. By our resolve, we will give strength to others. By our courage, we will give hope to others. And by our actions, we will secure the peace, and lead the world to a better day.
May God bless America. (Applause.)
END 8:31 P.M. EDT
Public; Senate Argues Along Party Lines Over Iraq Resolution>
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/10/20021007-8.html
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Finally, from us tonight, voices of concern. I think all of us have been trying to figure out where the country is as far as Iraq is concerned. There's no perfect way to know these things. No poll is perfect. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just start talking to people and listen carefully to what they have to say.
CNN's Candy Crowley did just that in Chicago.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That our country may go to war, that concerns me. I have different friends that are in the military.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think we should go. It's too -- not only is it too political, but I smell oil some place.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm up in the air about Iraq, right now. I do believe something needs to be done about Saddam Hussein. I believe he has military weapons.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, and it really is a tough question to answer, and to jump -- and innocent lives are going to be affected by that.
JAMES WARREN, "CHICAGO TRIBUNE": It's something people at the barber shop and elsewhere are talking about a little bit more, but doing so while scratching their head.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the threat of Saddam Hussein and what he's capable of is more of a concern, right now to me, than I think that we have to start now before he gets, you know, nuclear armament.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Saddam thing is, of course, another issue that's very troublesome. Should we, shouldn't we? Is he? Isn't he?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he's a bad guy, and we should get rid of him. I'm not totally comfortable that we've really thought through the process of how to do that.
WARREN: By and large, people will support Bush, who still is the beneficiary of a tremendous amount of post-September 11 goodwill.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But if we don't have that coalition, I think we have to understand that we were attacked and that we have the responsibility to protect our country. And that might mean going alone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If Saddam's out of order, and we find he's really out of order, the American people will back the president.
On October 8, 2002
D.C.-Area Residents Remain Fearful of Serial Sniper; U.S. Marine Killed in Drive-By Attack in Kuwait; Israeli Raid Kills More Than 15
Aired October 8, 2002 - 22:00 ET
AARON BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening again, everyone….
…. BROWN: Kathleen, thank you. Back to you at the top of the program.
A different kind of terror attack thousands of miles away. This one in Kuwait. Christiane Amanpour is on location there.
Christiane, a headline please.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Aaron, one U.S. Marine was killed, another one wounded in a drive-by attack. They are calling it terrorism. But there will be more investigations to determine who these people were affiliated to.
BROWN: Christiane, thank you, on the video phone. ...
