As President George W. Bush addressed the nation Monday night, OU students and faculty listened to the evidence laid out for a possible war with Iraq. Bush's speech sparked support and criticism from OU's community.

Ron Peters, Regents professor of political science, said Bush laid out the evidence against Iraq clearly.

"I thought it was a very well-articulated statement of his policies," Peters said.

Peters said there is no disagreement against Iraq disobeying U.N. sanctions, but he will probably find problems with the argument of going to war with Iraq.

"I suspect he'll get major approval in Congress," Peters said.

Bush laid out reasons to focus on Iraq and other nations with similar biological and chemical weapons.

"While there are many dangers in the world, the threat from Iraq stands alone because it gathers the most serious dangers of our age in one place," Bush said. "By its past and present actions, by its technological capabilities, by the merciless nature of its regime, Iraq is unique."

Jason Lowrey, political science senior, said Bush might not be trying to lay out reasons for U.N. pressure.

"I think what he was trying to do was provide reasons for a war with Iraq," Lowrey said. "I think he knows sanctions will not work on Iraq."

Telling the country from Cincinnati, Bush said Iraq is under the regime of a dictator -- Saddam Hussein. Quoting former President John F. Kennedy, Bush said the world cannot ignore a dictator.

"The time for denying, deceiving and delaying has come to an end," Bush said. "Saddam Hussein must disarm himself -- or, for the sake of peace, we will lead a coalition to disarm him."

Lowrey said this was a tactic to try to get more people in support of the possible war.

"I know he said that he doesn't want a war with Iraq, but it's pretty evident we are going to attack them," Lowrey said.

Despite the speech, Lowrey does not think the United States needs to go to war with Iraq when the war is against al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden.

"I think we need to figure out what we're going to do in this war on terrorism," Lowrey said. "He is a threat, but I don't know if we've proven he's linked to al-Qaida. If we prove otherwise, that's a different story."

Peters said Bush laid out an extensive argument against Saddam and his regime, proving that the leader of Iraq has harbored terrorists and built up weapons of mass destruction. He said he suspects the Congressional support, which will come to a vote later this week, would give Bush leverage in the United Nations.

"The president's going to be in a considerable position to put pressure on the U.N.," Peters said.

Bush said he will work to ensure Saddam is removed from power through the United Nations, but said the U.N. Security Council also needs to adopt a new resolution against Iraq.
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