By Whitney Lawless
President George W. Bush laid out his case against Saddam Hussein in an address to the nation on Monday night Oct. 7.
The President made his point clear as he described Hussein as a 'murderous tyrant' and 'homicidal dictator.'
The situation with Iraq has been on going for 11 years, Bush said. The truce that ended the Persian Gulf War in 1991 has been violated with every new chemical weapon Hussein creates.
Iraq has never completely accounted for materials used for weapons of mass destruction, specifically biological and chemical weapons since its defeat in 1991; Iraq has violated every U.N. resolution passed since 1991.
'The time for denying, deceiving, and delaying has come to an end,' Bush said.
The U.S. Congress is expected to decide this week on what action America will take on this issue.
Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch spoke Monday morning before the U.S. Senate.
'If you have evidence of your enemy''s capabilities -- and with Saddam Hussein we do -- and if you have evidence of his enmity -- and with Saddam Hussein we do -- then do not err on the side of wishful thinking,' he said. 'With enemies with the destructive capabilities of Saddam Hussein, we must be hard-headed.'
Bush said the only way to get rid of the terror of Iraq is a regime change, but as a nation there is little reason to expect it.
Bush said, 'Why now? We have experienced the horror of Sept. 11 and our enemies would be eager to use biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. We must not ignore the threat -- the final proof: the smoking gun in the form of a mushroom cloud.'
Nathan Boyack, president of the College Democrats at BYU, said, 'Bush has linked his campaign against Iraq to the war on terrorism. It''s a tenuous link at best. I don''t think he can make a very good argument for that link.'
Bush said confronting the threat of Iraq is crucial to defeating terrorism. Saddam Hussein cannot be trusted with the weapons he has, the risk is too great that he will use them.
'The danger is already significant and it grows worse with time,' Bush said.
Bush said the longer the nation waits, the stronger and bolder Saddam becomes. There can be no peace if our peace is dependant on the whims of a dictator like Saddam.
'I don''t see us attacking Iraq as throwing the first punch, it''s been going on for 11 years,' said Todd Henderson, a sophomore from Manteca, Calif., majoring in American Studies.
There is no refuge from the nations current dilemma, Bush said.
'By our courage, we will give hope to others. If we have to act, we will take every precaution necessary. We will prevail.'