arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

AFP · Reuters

Tuesday February 12, 10:01 AM

Bush issues new threat to North Korea
By Randall Mikkelsen

Photo: Reuters
Click to enlarge

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush issued a new warning to North Korea, Iraq and Iran on Monday, saying the United States had a mission to stop nations developing weapons of mass destruction from teaming up with terrorists.

"This president is not going to allow regimes such as Iran, Iraq and North Korea to threaten our way of life," Bush said in a fund-raising speech in Milwaukee for Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum.

Bush, who earlier this month described the three countries as the "axis of evil", said threats to America did not emanate only from "the terrorist organisations that hate freedom and kill in the name of religion".

"Our mission also includes countries which develop weapons of mass destruction -- nations with a history of brutality. If they are ever able to mate up with terrorist organisations the free world will be threatened."

In an earlier speech at the Medical College of Wisconsin, he said the United States had to "seize the moment".

"If we blink, the rest of the world will blink as well," Bush said, calling Afghanistan "the first theatre in the war against terror".

"I believe we must find terror wherever it hides and bring it to justice," he said.

His comments followed a warning against unilateral U.S. military action in Iraq from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that such an attack could jeopardise the global coalition against terrorism.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer responded that Bush had "not ruled anything out", saying it was critical to work with allies, including Russia, as the anti-terror campaign widened.

But he added: "Different coalitions will be formed among different nations for different objectives."

Russia enthusiastically backed the U.S. military drive against Taliban rulers in Afghanistan, who harboured the al Qaeda network Washington blames for the September 11 attacks that killed about 3,100 people.

But Putin, in the interview, said Russia opposed "drawing up blacklists" and described the use of force against Iraq as "far from being the sole, universal or best solution" to the problem.

"As it was with Taliban, the use of force should be justified," Putin said. "It should become obvious that there is no other way to solve this problem. There should be universally accepted evidence and the issue should be decided together with the international community."

WHITE HOUSE UNDETERRED

The White House stood by the "axis of evil" characterisation, calling Iraq, Iran and North Korea "a clear and present danger to the United States with their development of weapons of mass destruction."

"The president has been very clear about the objectives of the war on terrorism and about the need to work with our allies as well as to protect America by taking action on a wide variety of fronts. And the president has not ruled anything out," Fleischer said.

Fleischer said Bush and Putin were working together on many issues, including a proposal to impose "smart sanctions" against Iraq aimed at easing the flow of food and medicine while keeping a tight embargo on its access to arms.

"The president has viewed it always as a very constructive engagement," Fleischer said of Bush's relationship with Putin.

The White House spokesman added: "The president knows on some issues he will have the support of many nations. On others, he'll have the support of a differing number of nations."

"The president also believes very strongly ... that coalitions are best maintained through strength and through leadership and through consultation.

"And when it comes to the war on terrorism, the president will maintain the role of the United States in demonstrating strength and leadership," he said.