MR. McCLELLAN: Well, let me mention -- go back and walk you through some of what the document talks about. There's a whole section in there about Iraq and the decision to remove Saddam Hussein and his regime from power. The President believes it was the right decision to remove Saddam Hussein and his regime from power. His regime was a destabilizing force in a troubled region. And one of the things that the National Security Strategy talks about is the importance of, as I said, fighting this war on many fronts. It's not only -- the war on terrorism is not just a battle of arms, it's a battle of ideas. And that's what the document talks about. We are also working to spread freedom and democracy, particularly in that troubled region of the world. It is a region that has been a breeding ground for terrorism and a breeding ground for instability in the region. And so the decision to remove Saddam Hussein was made after exhaustive diplomatic efforts. Over 12 years there were some 17 resolutions, including Resolution 1441 by the United Nations Security Council that gave Saddam Hussein one final opportunity to come into full compliance or face serious consequences. And he chose to continue to defy the international community. And it's important that when you say something you mean it. And tyrants around the world know that we mean what we say. And so the decision to remove Saddam Hussein was made an intensive and exhaustive diplomatic effort.

seen at 12:21, 16 March in Whitehouse Press Briefings. Email this to a friend.
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