- FORT HOOD, Texas (Reuters)
- President Bush said on Friday the United States was ready to win a potential
war with Iraq and "liberate" its people as he rallied soldiers
at the largest U.S. Army base amid an intensifying military buildup around
the Gulf nation.
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- "Some crucial hours may lie ahead," Bush, wearing
a green military jacket, told about 4,000 troops at Fort Hood Army Base
in his home state of Texas. "We are ready. We're prepared."
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- "If force becomes necessary to disarm Iraq of weapons
of mass destruction ... to secure our country and to keep the peace, America
will act deliberately, America will act decisively, and America will prevail
because we've got the finest military in the world," he said. His
speech was punctuated with applause, whistles and the soldiers' traditional
"hoo-ah" cheers of approval.
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- Bush accused Iraqi President Saddam Hussein of being
a real threat to the United States and its allies because he had used weapons
of mass destruction in the past -- including against his own people.
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- "Should Saddam seal his fate by refusing to disarm,
by ignoring the opinion of the world, you'll be fighting not to conquer
anybody but to liberate people," Bush told the shoulder-to-shoulder
crowd in a base gymnasium as soldiers and their relatives waved stars-and-stripes.
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- Bush said he hoped to avoid war but that Saddam had chosen
to defy United Nations' disarmament demands by failing to provide a credible
account of his nuclear, biological and chemical weapon programs to arms
inspectors.
-
- Iraq denies it has such programs, says it is complying
with U.N. resolutions that stem back to the 1991 Gulf War and claims Bush
will launch a war to seize its oil wealth no matter what inspectors conclude.
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- MOVING TO THE GULF
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- Bush addressed the troops after defense officials said
the Pentagon had ordered units of the 45,000-member U.S. 1st Marine Expeditionary
Force to deploy from California to join thousands of other troops preparing
for a possible war.
-
- Nearly 60,000 U.S. military personnel are in the Gulf
and that number could double in the coming weeks following a New Year's
surge in the movement of troops, warplanes and ships to the Gulf region.
-
- The president flew to the base by helicopter, landing
in a setting that provided images of the military's preparations to underscore
his war rhetoric.
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- Flanking his landing area were sand-colored tanks, a
black Apache attack helicopter, a missile launch vehicle and Bradley fighting
vehicles. Some of the soldiers greeting him were dressed in camouflage
and sporting green-painted faces as they stood near artillery inscribed
with nicknames such as "Cold Steel."
-
- Posing for a photograph alongside Col. Jerry Ferguson,
chief-of-staff of the 1st Cavalry Division, Bush pointed at the burly soldier
looming above him and said, "I'm glad Ferguson's on our team."
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- In the gymnasium, military flags hung from rafters and
camouflage netting covered the walls while a brass band played. The soldiers
inside, who wore military fatigues and black berets, practiced for the
event hours beforehand and were encouraged to show enthusiasm for the president.
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- 'GREAT FOR MORALE'
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- Bush's roughly two-hour tour of planned handshakes, salutes,
backslapping and even a campaign-style pose lifting a baby from the crowd,
also included an inspection of military hardware as well as lunch in the
mess hall with the troops.
-
- The choreographed event appeared less emotionally charged
than other trips Bush has made to bases to thank troops for their efforts
in the war on terrorism since the Sept. 11 attacks. But Spc. Cory Riggins
said the soldiers appreciated Bush's visit.
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- "This is great for morale. Everybody is thinking
about when the deployment is coming and so it's exciting to have the family
members here and everybody cheering. It gives everyone a boost," Riggins
said.
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- Bush said 1,600 soldiers were now preparing for overseas
deployments from Fort Hood, which with 42,000 soldiers has more troops
than any other U.S. Army base.
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- "In the months ahead more soldiers from Fort Hood
may be given other essential missions, but wherever you serve or wherever
you may be sent you can know that America is grateful and your commander-in-chief
is confident in your abilities and proud of your service," Bush said.
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- Bush, nearing the end of a 10-day winter break at his
Texas ranch has said he still has not made a decision to attack Iraq. But
signs such as his cancellation of a January trip to Africa and the troops'
preparations have prompted many military analysts to predict he will order
an attack.
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