U.S. President Says Preemptive Strike Necessary to Deter Terrorism

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, June 02, 2002

U.S. President Says Preemptive Strike Necessary to Deter Terrorism

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U.S. President George W. Bush told nearly 1,000 West Point graduates Saturday that the United States must be ready to launch a preemptive strike to deter terrorism, saying the Cold War doctrines of containment and deterrence were irrelevant in the new type of war.

"If we wait for threats to fully materialize, we will have waited too long," he said at the commencement of the first class to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York since the September 11 attacks.

"We must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt his plans and confront the worst threats before they emerge," he said.

Bush warned the cadets of the danger of America's enemies acquiring weapons of mass destruction. "When the spread of chemical and biological and nuclear weapons, along with ballistic missile technology, ..even weak states and small groups could attain a catastrophic power to strike great nations," he said.

In a toughly worded speech, Bush added, "All nations that decide for aggression and terror will pay a price. We will not leave the safety of America and the peace of the planet at the mercy of a few mad terrorists and tyrants."

"The only path to safety is action, and this nation will act," he said.

The speech marked the first time Bush had said that all Americans must be "ready for preemptive action when necessary to defend our liberty and to defend our lives." Aides said that was a newly articulated component of his policy.

Defense Secretary Ronald Rumsfeld has said on several occasions that the U.S. must strike first in the battle against terrorism.

Bush warned Americans once again of threats still facing the nation. "The dangers have not passed," he said. "This government and the American people are on watch. We are ready. Because we know that terrorists have more money and more men and more plans."

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