Washington, 26 November 2001 (RFE/RL) -- U.S. President George W. Bush says Iraqi President Saddam Hussein should permit UN weapons inspectors to return to Iraq. Bush said at the White House today that the Baghdad government needs to show the international community whether Iraq is building weapons of mass destruction. "I stand by those words: Afghanistan is only the beginning. If anybody harbors a terrorist, he is a terrorist. If they fund a terrorist, they are terrorists. If they house terrorists, they are terrorists. If they develop weapons of mass destruction that would be used to terrorize nations, they would be held accountable. As for Mr. Saddam Hussein, he needs to let inspectors back in his country to show us that he is not developing weapons of mass destruction."
Asked what would happen if Saddam refused, Bush replied, "He'll find out."
Iraq expelled the weapons inspectors in December 1998 on charges they were spying for the United States. It rejected a UN resolution adopted the following year that called for the suspension of UN sanctions if the inspectors were allowed to return.
Asked what would happen if Saddam refused, Bush replied, "He'll find out."
Iraq expelled the weapons inspectors in December 1998 on charges they were spying for the United States. It rejected a UN resolution adopted the following year that called for the suspension of UN sanctions if the inspectors were allowed to return.