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Show t 003 NATIONAL NEWS Bush spells out risk he believes Saddam poses WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2003 by Martin Merzer and Jodi Enda Knight Ridder President seeking to rally Americans standing on shaky economic ground and the brink of war, called on the nation Tuesday night to confront the "outlaw regime" of Iraq or risk "a day of horror like none we have ever known." millions of people, and capable of using it. was all too "We re being forced to cut vital services from police to lire to health care," Locke said "We dictator of Iraq is not disarming," Bush said during his State of the Union address. "To the contrary, he is deceivi- - "The need a White House that understands the challenges our communities and people are facing across America ng." " Although he didn't mention Iraq until deep into his speech, the president devoted nearly the entire second half to a stark assessment of the risk he believes Saddam poses. He said Iraq could He also said his party supported the president so far on the Iraq issue but object ed to Bush's contention that he didn't need U.N. approval to use military force not In his speech, Bush also spoke fervently of building a more "compassionate" socie- account for 6,600 gallons of anthrax, more than 10,000 gallons of botulinum toxin and as much as 500 tons of chemical agents, enough to commit unthinkable mass ty. He called on Congress to murder. 11, 2001, many in world believed that Saddam Hussein could be contained," Bush said. "But chemical agents and lethal viruses and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily "Before Sept. the relief for those afflicted by the ailing economy. contained. Watched by a world apprehensive at the specter of war, appearing before a Congress dominated by Republican supporters, Bush attempted to shore up support for a showdown with Iraq and for battles with Democrats over "Imagine those 19 hijackers with other, weapons and other plans, this time armed by Saddam Hussein. It would take just one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known." The president, however, didn't present any evidence that or linked Saddam to other terrorist groups, and he didn't mention that other unfriendly nations, including Iran, also possess such weapons. Bush also devoted much of his speech to promoting massive tax cuts, a prescription drug benefit program for older Americans and other is Democratic leaders chose of Locke Gov Gary Washington state to present the party's rebuttal Many states are confronting record budget shortfalls this year He said Saddam Hussein might possess enough chemical and biological material to a 7 not to tax it away in the first place." Critics have focused on a component of the plan that would end the double taxation of some corporate dividends They said thal clement would disproportionately benefit the wealthy Bush, kill -- Americans have the money Newspapers WASHINGTON DIXIE SUN THE VOICE OF DIXIE STATE COLLEGE OF UTAH domestic issues. "This country has many chal- lenges," he said. "We will not deny, we will not ignore, we not pass along our problems to other Congresses, other presidents and other generations. We will confront them with focus and clarity and courage." will In contrast to his belligerent tone toward Iraq, Bush emphasized that he is working with allies in Asia "to find a peaceful solution" to the threat of North nuclear weapons. Korean But he said: "America and the world will not be black- mailed." Bush didn't set a deadline for Iraqi compliance with U.N. disarmament demands, but he once again made clear that his patience with Saddam was at an end. To the Iraqi people, Bush declared: "Your enemy is not surrounding your country your enemy is ruling your country. And the day he and his regime are removed from power will be the day of your liberation." He said Secretary of State Colin Powell would travel to the United Nations on Feb. 5 and share previously classified material showing that Iraq is hiding biological and chemical weapons and smuggling in material that can be used to produce long-rangmissiles and nuclear weapons. e Administration officials said they also have information suggesting that Iraqi military officers regularly intercept between communications UN. arms inspectors and know in advance where they are going. Before the speech, polls showed that large numbers of Americans expected the president to share his plan for the country navigating through a period of high unemployment, rising federal budget deficits and a falter- ing stock market. Bush devoted most of the first half of his speech to those concerns, promoting his $674 billion tax cut. The administration says the plan is designed to stimulate the economy, relieve the "marriage penalty" and help nearly all taxpayers. "Jobs are created when the economy grows, Bush said. "The economy grows when Americans have more money to spend and invest; and the best, fairest way to make sure change Medicare rules and help older Americans pay for prescription drugs, largely through private firms that are subsidized by the government "For many people, medical care costs too much, and many have no coverage at all," he said "These problems will not be solved with a sysnationalized health-cartem that dictates coverage and rations care e " Though details of that plan were sketchy, critics charged that it would coerce the elderly into private health plans that would restrict their ability to choose doctors. "The administration claims it believes in marketplace competition, but this proposal is the antithesis of competition," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a group. health "Instead, it stacks the deck I 1.1 care-advocac- y against seniors' favorite choice current the tradi- tional Medicare program, which gives senior full access to the doctors of their choice." 'i I: I |