Q Ari, does this new resolution represent a last chance for the
Security Council?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, when you consider the fact that Resolution
1441 said, "last chance," then what the President is saying to the
Security Council is, this is your last chance to mean what you've
previously said. After all, if you can pass resolutions that say Iraq
must comply fully and immediately, Iraq must comply with all
provisions, they may not have any missiles in excess of 150 kilometers,
and then they acknowledge that Iraq has missiles in excess of 150
kilometers, and they do nothing about it, what's the purpose of passing
all those previous resolutions?
Why then would people look to the United Nations as an instrument
of peace, if instead, all it is is an instrument of putting out
declarations that nobody intends to take seriously anyway? So the
President believes that if the declarations are to have meaning and
have value, they must be taken seriously. So this is the President's
chance to have the United Nations taken seriously.
Q One more with the U.N. The President initially said, very
carefully, that he would welcome a new resolution. Other
administration officials said that he would support a new resolution,
and it sounded as if this was in theory. And now, you're saying that
the United States is going to press aggressively and take the leading
role. I mean, what changed? Why the more aggressive effort by the
United States?
MR. FLEISCHER: I think, just quote the words. I've never used the
words, "aggressively" or "take a leading role." I said that the
President has said that it's important to have a meaningful United
Nations Security Council, and that the President believes that it is
important to go to the Security Council. We will offer a resolution
this week or next, and I've made no predictions about what the outcome
of that would be. I've said the President believes that ultimately the
United Nations will want to be relevant and want to have an effective
role. That remains his hope. That's what I've said. Those are the
words that I've used.
Q But leading role would not be accurate, from what you told us
today, about the --
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, again, as I indicated, we'll determine
exactly, along with our friends and allies, of who the sponsor of the
resolution will be. The United States is working with the United
Kingdom right now in the drafting of such a resolution. So in that
sense, if you want to call that a leading role, I think that might be
an accurate description. But I just want to use my words.
Q Ari, you mentioned earlier that the administration could live
with a 9-0 vote out of the United Nations. I'm just wondering what
value you would see in a resolution that's passed by nine votes, but
vetoed by other countries.
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, clearly, if something is vetoed, then it
doesn't pass. And what I said was, the measure for passage is nine
votes and no veto.
Q Do you anticipate success in your effort to win it?
MR. FLEISCHER: We'll find out. We'll find out, and as the
President says, he very much hopes so. That's what he would like for
the United Nations to do. And if the United Nations does not see fit
to enforce its resolutions, then the President does not believe the
world would be safer with an armed Saddam Hussein who receives a signal
from the Security Council that it's okay to have arms, that the
Security Council intends to do nothing about it.
Q Could you just give us an update, or is there -- actually
are there any updates on the signing of the omnibus budget bill?
MR. FLEISCHER: I noticed just before I came here that the White
House has officially received it now. And so we'll keep you informed
about exactly when it will get signed.
Q Thank you.
MR. FLEISCHER: Thank you.
END 12:56 P.M. EST