WASHINGTON - President Bush said on Monday he was trying diplomacy "one more time" to disarm Iraq, and that if Iraqi President Saddam Hussein met U.N. demands it would be a sign his regime had changed.
Bush's comments gave the strongest indication yet the United States could possibly accept Saddam's remaining in power if he met U.N. disarmament demands, despite U.S. policy in favor of a "regime change" in Iraq. A White House spokesman said Bush had not changed his position.
Bush's remarks also reflected a low-key tone as the United States delivered to the United Nations a new draft resolution seeking to force Iraqi compliance with U.N. disarmament demands. Bush said he believed Saddam could be disarmed peacefully.
The stated policy of our government, the previous administration and this administration, is regime change, because we don't believe he is going to change," Bush told reporters after talks with NATO Secretary General George Robertson.
"However, if he were to meet all the conditions of the United Nations, the conditions that I've described very clearly in terms that everybody can understand, that in itself will signal the regime has changed," he said. Bush spoke as U.S. diplomats in the United Nations circulated a new draft resolution on Iraq to the four other veto-holding Security Council members. Diplomats were working to resolve differences with veto-holders France and Russia over U.S. aims for a single resolution that would pave the way for use of force if Iraq fails to comply.
"We've tried diplomacy. We're trying it one more time. I believe the free world, if we make up our mind to, can disarm this man peacefully," said Bush. "But if not ... we have the will and the desire, as do other nations, to disarm Saddam." Fleischer said the resolution under discussion calls for a "much tougher and much more effective" inspection system and "makes clear that there will be serious consequences if Saddam Hussein fails to honor his obligations." //