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Bush says Saddam's 'day of reckoning is coming'
( 2003-01-03 08:32 ) (7 )

US President George W. Bush warned Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on Thursday that his "day of reckoning is coming," saying there was little evidence he would disarm peacefully.

"For 11 long years the world has dealt with him, and now he's got to understand his day of reckoning is coming and therefore he must disarm voluntarily," Bush told reporters at his Crawford, Texas, ranch. "Saddam Hussein, hopefully he realizes we're serious."

Bush spoke as more than 11,000 American troops prepared to head for the Gulf amid US preparations for a possible invasion of Iraq to force an end to any programs Saddam has to make nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.

Bush said he hoped for a peaceful resolution, but added, "It's his (Saddam's) choice to make."

"He is a man who likes to play games and charades, and ... the first indication isn't very positive that he will voluntarily disarm," Bush said.

Under US pressure, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed a resolution in November obliging Iraq to provide a full account of its weapons programs and cooperate with UN weapons inspectors, or face tough consequences.

Saddam denies possessing any weapons of mass destruction.

Bush called Iraq's weapons declaration submitted last month "false" and cast doubt on efforts by UN inspectors now under way to obtain sensitive information from Iraqi scientists.

"The inspectors are there to verify whether or not he is disarming, and you hear these reports about Iraqi scientists being interviewed, but there's a minder in the room," the president said.

Iraq's deputy prime minister, Tareq Aziz, accused Washington of planning to invade his country regardless of what UN arms inspectors turn up, as part of a plan to control the region's oil supplies.

While Bush said he hoped the standoff with Saddam could be resolved without the use of force, he added: "He's a danger to the American people. He's a danger to our friends and allies."

US officials have argued that Saddam could go after US interests or supply weapons to extremist groups like al Qaeda, which the United States accuses of masterminding the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Defense officials said the order to send desert-trained troops to the Gulf was the first deployment of a full combat division to the area since the 1991 Gulf War.

They and other troops on notice to move would double the nearly 60,000 US personnel already in the region in the event that Bush carries out his threat to attack Iraq.