In his weekly radio address today (Saturday), Mr. Bush said some threats are so grave and their potential consequences so terrible that they must be removed -- even if it requires military force.
Mr. Bush said Saddam Hussein is among history's cruelest dictators, and he is arming himself with the world's most terrible weapons. The President cataloged atrocities committed by the Iraqi government.
Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw says war with Iraq is now much more probable.In an interview with British radio today, Mr. Straw said time is running out for Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to give up his banned weapons of mass destruction.
President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar will hold a one-day summit in the Azores Sunday on the Iraqi crisis.
The three leaders are to discuss last-ditch diplomatic efforts to gain approval of a U-N Security Council resolution setting a deadline for Iraq to disarm or face military action.
The resolution is facing fierce opposition from some members of the Security Council, including France, Russia and China, which have veto power.