White House: Bush Will Send a Message to the American People at the Start of Military Operations Against Iraq - 2003-03-20

The White House states that whenever the U.S. begins military operations against Iraq, President Bush will send a message to the American people, but U.S. officials do not specify whether the President will speak to the public before or after the war begins. Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, mentioned that with the expiration of Saddam Hussein's deadline to leave Iraq, he has shown his last vestiges of defiance. The White House warned American citizens to prepare for casualties in the war with Iraq, a conflict that will last an uncertain duration. Ari Fleischer did not confirm whether the expiration of Saddam Hussein's deadline would be mentioned but stated that whenever the war begins, the President will address the American people. President Bush did not participate in public events yesterday and spent most of his time out of the public eye, engaged with senior advisors on war plans and a phone conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. President Bush also discussed with Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor of New York, the city's measures to counter potential terrorist attacks. Ari Fleischer expressed hope that the Iraq war would be as precise and brief as possible but acknowledged that there are many uncertainties. Several Democratic leaders in the U.S. Congress criticized President Bush for not preparing the American people for the human and financial costs of the war. Yesterday, President Bush formally notified Congress in writing that diplomacy and other peaceful means to protect the United States and disarm Iraq had failed.