SEN. TALENT STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT BUSH'S ADDRESS TO THE NATION

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) U.S. Senator Jim Talent (R-Mo.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tonight (September 7, 2003) issued the following statement on President Bush's address to the nation:

"President Bush tonight updated the country on our progress in Iraq and announced his intention to request a new UN Security Council Resolution calling for the participation of other governments in the reconstruction of Iraq. 

"The President understands the clear need to increase the size of the security force in Iraq and his proposal is the first step in what I hope will be a reasonable dialogue and negotiating process with the Security Council members. 

"As the President said tonight, the terrorists want to shake the will of the civilized world.  The attacks against the Jordanian Embassy, UN headquarters and Iraqis supporting coalition efforts, make clear that the terrorists are not only waging war against freedom for the Iraqi people but against all freedom and all nations seeking peace.  I hope that this fact underpins the position of the UN Security Council, and in particular, the position of the French government.  

"I appreciated the President's remarks tonight.  I will continue to support him and America's military men and women in the war against terrorism."