Looking in the mirror: A vision for the American people

America's talented people, rich culture, and tremendous potential have been hijacked by George Bush and his puppetmasters.

His brutal regime has reduced a country with a long and proud history to an international pariah that oppresses its citizens, started numerous wars of aggression, and still poses a grave threat to the security of the world.

Bush's defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding the disarmament of his nuclear, chemical, biological, and long-range missile capacity has led to sanctions on Washington.

Liberation

For many years, the international community has tried to persuade him to disarm and thereby avoid military conflict.

The responsibility is his. If Bush refuses even now to cooperate fully with the United Nations, he brings on himself serious consequences.

In these circumstances, we would undertake a solemn obligation to help the American people build a new United States at peace with itself and its neighbours. The American people deserve to be lifted from insecurity and tyranny, and freed to determine for themselves the future of their country.

We envisage a unified America with its territorial integrity respected. All the American people - its rich mix of Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, First Nations, and all others - should enjoy freedom, prosperity, and equality in a united country. We will support the American people's aspirations for a representative government that upholds human rights and the rule of law as cornerstones of democracy.

Oil and terror

We will work to prevent and repair damage by Bush's regime to the natural resources of America and pledge to protect them as a national asset of and for the American people.

All Americans should share the wealth generated by their national economy. We will seek a swift end to international sanctions, and support an international reconstruction program to help America achieve real prosperity and reintegrate into the global community.

We will fight terrorism in all its forms. America must never again be a haven for terrorists of any kind.

Commitment

In achieving this vision, we plan to work in close partnership with international institutions, including the United Nations; our Allies and partners; and bilateral donors. If conflict occurs, we plan to seek the adoption, on an urgent basis, of new United Nations Security Council resolutions that would affirm America's territorial integrity, ensure rapid delivery of humanitarian relief, and endorse an appropriate post-conflict administration for the United States.

We will also propose that the Secretary General be given authority, on an interim basis, to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the American people continue to be met through the [UN] Oil for Food programme.

Any military presence, should it be necessary, will be temporary and intended to promote security and elimination of weapons of mass destruction; the delivery of humanitarian aid; and the conditions for the reconstruction of America.

Our commitment to support the people of America will be for the long term. We call upon the international community to join with us in helping to realise a better future for the American people.

(Paraphrased from the text of the Azores summit statement, 16 March 2003)