Bush speech on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction

(5 Sep 2002) APTN Louisville, Kentucky 1. US President George W. Bush walking onto stage 2. Cutaway of crowd applauding 3. Bush standing at podium 4. Wide shot of event 5. SOUNDBITE (English) George W. Bush, US President: “I take the threat very seriously. I take the fact that he develops weapons of mass destruction very seriously. I remember the fact that he has invaded two countries before. I know for a fact that he’s poisoned his own people. He doesn’t believe in the worth of each individual. He doesn’t believe in public dissent. I look forward to a dialogue.“ 6. Cutaways 7. SOUNDBITE (English) George W. Bush, US President: “I will remind them that history has called us into action, that we love freedom, that we will be deliberate, patient, strong in the values that we adhere to. But we can’t let the world’s worst leaders blackmail, threaten, hold freedom loving nations hostage with the world’s worst weapons.“ 8. Cutaway of people in crowd applauding 9. Wide shot of event POOL Washington DC 10. Wide shot of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle during news conference 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Tom Daschle, US Senate majority leader (Democratic party): “I think you can make the case, hypothetically and theoretically, you can make the case that there are occasions that might require pre-emptive action. That’s why I say, give us the facts, give us a far better appreciation of the circumstances involving Iraq and that may be one of them, but that case has not been made so far.“ 12. Wide shot of Daschle STORYLINE: US President George W. Bush continued to press his case against Iraq on Thursday, as his critics called for details of the threats that Iraq poses to the world. Speaking in Louisville, Kentucky, Bush reiterated his belief that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein poses a threat and said he plans to discuss the issue with world leaders. Bush has already said he will outline his case against Saddam in a speech on 12 September at the United Nations. In his speech on Thursaday, Bush said he would discuss Iraq on Friday by telephone with the presidents of France and Russia and the premier of China. Mr Bush will then meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Camp David on Saturday. Bush said he will remind the leaders that history has called the US and its allies into action, and that Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to hold other nations hostage. Meanwhile, as Bush prepares to take his case internationally, support at home appears to be waning. A new poll shows American public support for attacking Iraq has dropped over the last month to its lowest levels since the war on terrorism began. The ABC News poll showed that 56 percent of those polled favoured military action against Iraq, down from 69 percent early in August. Just 39 percent of those polled supported military action against Iraq, even if US allies are opposed. Just a day after the Bush administration began a dialogue with Congress over the situation in Iraq, leaders in both the President’s Republican party and the opposition Democratic parties have expressed reservations. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said Bush had yet to make the case that an attack against Baghdad is crucial. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: