World News 22-08-2002 Bush: I Will Not Be Drawn Into War `Frenzy` who: George W Bush what: Says he has patience over attack on Saddam where: Texas, USA when: Yesterday snippet: President George Bush moved to calm international fears over Iraq yesterday, says The Scotsman, when he "softened his rhetoric" against Saddam Hussein, promising further "consultation and deliberation" before taking any decision on military action. National and international unease about the President`s `gung-ho` attitude to a potential attack on Iraq has led to a more circumspect attitude, reckons the same paper. "The American people know my position and that is regime change [in Iraq] is in the interests of the world," said President Bush after a key strategy meeting at his Texan ranch. "How we achieve that is a matter of consultation and deliberation ... I am a deliberate person." The Times, however, interprets Pres. Bush`s remarks as a straightforward "reaffirmation" of his intention to proceed with military action, noting that the guest list for his cabinet meeting excluded Colin Powell, the most notable opponent to a "hasty invasion." On a similar tack, The Telegraph claims that leading US conservatives in the administration, who advocate swift action against Iraq, "have been leaning hard on the intelligence services to provide evidence of direct links between Saddam Hussein and the September 11 attacks." Right on cue, it might seem, defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld claims that senior members of al-Qa`eda have taken refuge in Iraq, a claim hotly disputed by the Iraqi deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz. Mr Aziz admitted this week that "there were al-Qa`eda members in Iraq, but that they were all in northern areas under Kurdish control." [... more]

What The Papers Say is delivered to thousands of readers every morning by web, WAP and email. Sign up today!