US President George W Bush made it clear, in his State of the Union address to Congress early this morning, that he was prepared to go to war against Saddam Hussein whatever the decision of other countries in the United Nations Security Council.
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Introducing for the first time the prospect of an ultimatum for the Iraqi president to disarm, Mr Bush said he had instructed US Secretary of State Colin Powell to convene a meeting of the UN Security Council on February 5th to present new evidence against Iraq.
Mr Bush claimed he has fresh intelligence that Saddam Hussein consorts with terrorists - including Al Qaeda - and seeks to "dominate, intimidate or attack" with weapons of mass destruction.
Speaking later in the House of Commons in London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said they knew of Iraqi links with Al Qaeda.
"We do know of links between al-Qaeda and Iraq," he said adding that he knew of no evidence linking the twoin relation to September 11th attacks in 2001.
Mr Bush pledged to "fight with the full force and might of the United States military," if necessary, to disarm Iraq.
Referring to world-wide opposition to a unilateral US led attack on Iraq, Mr Bush said, "We will consult, but let there be no misunderstanding: If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm for the safety of our people, and for the peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him."
This statement was greeted with roars of approval from Republican members of Congress and a long standing ovation.
Mr Bush said US intelligence indicated Saddam has not accounted for upto 25,000 liters of anthrax, 38,000 liters of botulism toxin, 500 tons of sarin, mustard gas and VX nerve agent and upwards of 30,000 munitions capable of delivering chemical weapons.
"This dictator, who is assembling the world's most dangerous weapons, has already used them on whole villages - leaving thousands of his own citizens dead, blind, or disfigured," he said.
"Iraqi refugees tell us how forced confessions are obtained - bytorturing children while their parents are made to watch. International human rights groups have catalogued other methods used in the torture chambers of Iraq: electric shock, burning with hot irons, dripping acid on the skin, mutilation with electric drills, cutting out tongues, and rape.
"If this is not evil, then evil has no meaning," Mr Bush said.
"The world cannot afford to wait until the threat from Iraq is plainlyimminent. Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike?"
"Evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications, andstatements by people now in custody, reveal that Saddam Hussein aids andprotects terrorists, including members of al-Qaeda. Secretly, and without fingerprints, he could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists, or help them develop their own.
"Before September 11th, 2001, many in the world believed that SaddamHussein could be contained. But chemical agents and lethal viruses andshadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Imagine those 19hijackers 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. We will do everything in our power to make sure that day never comes."
His message for the people of Iraq was: "your enemy is not surrounding your country, your enemy is ruling your country."