DAYTONA BEACH, Forida (voa) – President Bush has renewed his warning to what he calls “terrorists and nations willing to develop weapons of mass destruction,” saying the United States will hold them accountable. The president was speaking to a crowd of senior citizen volunteers in Daytona Beach, Florida, as part of a tour of southeastern states.
The president also urged other countries to stand with the United States, saying weapons of mass destruction “could just as easily be pointed at them as at us.” In his state of the union speech Tuesday night, President Bush described Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as an “axis of evil” that sponsors terrorism and seeks weapons of mass destruction.
On Wednesday, the White House said President Bush did not intend to signal imminent military action against the three countries, and stressed that Washington is still open to talks with Iran and North Korea. State Department officials said Iraq must first accept the return of United Nations arms inspectors before dialogue is possible. At the Florida rally Thursday, the president appealed to senior citizens throughout the country to lend their wisdom and experience to the fight against terrorism, by helping in citizens’ patrols and emergency response programs.
Mr. Bush said retired doctors, teachers, and police officers, for example, could play an important role in efforts to increase domestic security. He also said senior citizens are especially valuable in helping children, citing a local foster grandparent program. The president then traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, where he was due to speak on the Teach for America program at a local high school.
President Bush is on a two-day tour of southern states to win support for his “Freedom Corps” national service initiative. He has asked all Americans to donate 4,000 hours of volunteer service during their lifetimes.
