It began his discussion of the "war on terror" by asserting, as he had after September 11, 2001 and in his previous State of the Union, that "the gravest danger facing America and the world, is outlaw regimes that seek and possess nuclear, chemical and biological weapons."

Bush said that Saddam Hussein, "a brutal dictator, with a history of reckless aggression, with ties to terrorism, with great potential wealth, will not be permitted to dominate a vital region and threaten the United States."

In this context, Bush also said, "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa",[1] a line which became a source of contention in the later Plame affair.

The domestic brutality of Hussein and the benefits of liberty and freedom for the Iraqi people were briefly noted near the end of the speech.

[3] The Democratic response was given by then Washington Governor Gary Locke, who was appointed to be United States Ambassador to China in 2011.