Bush Asks for Tougher Focus on Weapons
of Mass Destruction

By K.L. Vantran
American Forces Press Service

President George W. Bush delivers remarks on Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation at the National Defense University at Ft. McNair, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004. White House photo by Eric Draper

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2004 – The United States and its allies "will act on every lead to find the middlemen, the suppliers and the buyers" to stop the spread of deadly weapons, President Bush said today, proposing ways to strengthen the world's efforts toward that goal.

Bush spoke at the National Defense University at Fort McNair here.

The president proposed that the work of the Proliferation Security Initiative be expanded to address more than shipments and transfers.

"Building on the tools that we've developed to fight terrorists, we can take direct action against proliferation networks," he said. "PSI should use Interpol and all other means to bring justice to those who traffic in deadly weapons -- to shut down their labs, to seize their materials, to freeze their assets. The message to proliferators must be consistent, and it must be clear: We will find you, and we're not going to rest until you're stopped." Full Story