Global Policy Forum

By Julian Borger

President George Bush last night gave Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to give up power and go into exile or face invasion by more than a quarter of a million US and British troops massed on Iraq's borders. In a televised address to the nation, Mr Bush urged Iraqi soldiers not to fight for a "dying regime" and said they would be given instructions on what to do to avoid being "attacked and destroyed".

The Iraqi regime quickly rejected the ultimatum, a response the US administration said it had expected. In effect, the president's 15-minute televised address to the nation from the White House was a declaration of war, which could come any time after tomorrow night. "Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict commenced at a time of our choosing," the president said. He warned foreigners, including journalists and weapons inspectors, to leave immediately.

Mr Bush also braced Americans for retaliatory attacks at home and abroad and assured them that security measures were being taken to protect them, including the deportation of "certain individuals with ties to Iraqi intelligence services" and higher security at airports and seaports. As soon as the president finished speaking, the national alert level was raised to code orange, signifying there was a high threat of terrorist attack.

The president expressed regret that the United Nations security council had chosen not to back military action against Iraq, hours after the US, Britain and Spain decided to withdraw a resolution threatening military force in the face of staunch opposition from France and Russia, and deep reluctance among other security council nations. The president justified the impending invasion on grounds of pre-emptive self-defence, arguing that Baghdad could arm terrorists with weapons of mass destruction. "The United Nations security council has not lived up to its responsibilities, so we will rise to ours," he said. As the security council broke up amid acrimony earlier yesterday, the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, questioned the legitimacy of such an attack.

Much of last night's presidential address was directed towards the Iraqi armed forces in an attempt to persuade them to stand aside rather than defend Saddam and his two sons, Qusay and Uday, who both hold powerful positions in the regime. Iraqi commanders, the president said, would be given "clear instructions to avoid being attacked and destroyed". He also told the Iraqi forces not to destroy oil wells or obey instructions to use chemical or biological weapons, or they would face war crimes trials. "It will be no defence to say: I was just following orders." His remarks came a few hours after Pentagon officials said they had intelligence that Republican Guard units south of Baghdad may have been issued with chemical munitions.

As for ordinary Iraqis, the president promised: "The day of your liberation is near." The assault would not be aimed at them, and US troops would bring food and medicine. As the final countdown to war began, UN monitors on the Kuwait-Iraq border left their observation posts between Iraq's 350,000-strong army and a gathering force of 225,000 American and 45,000 British troops, supported by six aircraft carriers and more than 600 combat aircraft.

The Full Transcript of President George W. Bush's Speech on Iraq

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