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Bush to seek Congressional nod for action

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington Sept. 4. The United States President, George W. Bush, has said that he would seek Congressional approval before taking any action against the Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, and has reminded America's allies that their "credibility is at stake'' as they decide whether or not to back Washington. "Saddam Hussein is a serious threat. He is a significant problem. And it's something that this country must deal with,'' Mr. Bush said.

Speaking to the media after a meeting with the Congressional leaders at the White House, Mr. Bush said that "doing nothing about that serious threat is not an option for the United States.''

Over the weekend, Mr. Bush announced that he would be meeting the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at Camp David; and on Monday, he would see the Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien. He would talk over the phone with the leaders of Russia, China and France, besides giving a speech at the United Nations next Thursday. "I will first remind the United Nations that for 11 long years, Saddam Hussein has sidestepped, craw-fished and wheedled out of any agreement he made not to harbour — not to develop weapons of mass destruction, agreements he has made to treat the people within his country with respect. And so I'm going to call on the world to recognise that he is stifling the world... and I will talk about ways to make sure that he fulfils his obligations.''

Mr. Bush's speech at the United Nations is being billed as an important one, especially as it pertains to Iraq. He would not say if his speech would amount to serving the Iraqi leader an ultimatum or if he would demand the return of weapons inspectors. "The issue is not inspectors. The issue is disarmament,'' Mr. Bush told mediapersons.

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