Saddam: You Will Never Defeat Me

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said Wednesday that the United States and its allies would not be able to topple his government.

Saddam, marking the 34th anniversary of the revolution which brought his ruling Baath party to power, also said Iraqis were well-prepared and equipped to defend their country against any military assault.

"Temmuz (July Revolution) returns to say to all evil tyrants and oppressors of the world: You will never defeat me this time. Never! Even if you come together from all over the world, and invite all the devils as well, to stand by you," Saddam said.

In a televised speech marking Iraq's national day, Saddam said Iraqis are not afraid of the "propaganda of foreign powers...and Iraq will eventually emerge triumphant." He also exhorted Iraqis to fight for their country's independence and freedom.

"The wind will blow away foreign rattling as the noise of an evil tyrant," he said in an implicit reference to U.S. war threats and plans to remove him from power.

Saddam, the man who has ruled Iraq with an iron fist for 23 years, piled on the war of words with his main 1991 Gulf War foe, Washington.

"Temmuz also returns armed with swords, bow and spear, carrying its shield or gun and cannon...or poised in its battle trench which may, through caution and alertness, save life from schemes, conspiracies, and perfidy, and protect all our dear men."

His remarks coincided with mounting speculation that the United States might use its military might to try to oust him.

President Bush said last week Washington would use all tools at its disposal to topple Saddam. He has branded Iraq part of an "axis of evil" supporting terrorism and developing weapons of mass destruction.

Iraq has repeatedly denied the U.S. charges.

Saddam urged Iraqis to "fight with valor, chivalry, patience and resolve, as you have always done when forced."

He said if Washington attacked, "Iraq will emerge eventually triumphant.

"The others need only to realize and learn the lesson, and know that the principles, high interests and national security cannot be protected without sacrifices."

The Iraqi leader prayed for God to protect Iraq "against the schemes of the devil or of those to whom the devil is master," in clear reference to the United States.

Wednesday's address came one day after Saddam, in his first newspaper interview in years, said he believed the entire Arab world, rather than just Iraq, is threatened by the United States.

His address, carried live by state television and radio and lasted for 40 minutes, made no reference to Iraq's relations with the U.N. Security Council and U.N. inspections of Baghdad's weapons of mass destruction.

Iraq and the United Nations failed last week to reach an agreement to resume weapons inspections after intensive talks between U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri.

U.S. officials have accused Iraq of rebuilding sites where they had produced weapons of mass destruction after U.N. arms experts left the country in December 1998. The inspectors left just before a U.S.-British bombing campaign intended to punish Baghdad for not cooperating with them.

Mr. Bush signed an order earlier this year directing the CIA to increase support to Iraqi opposition groups and allowing possible use of CIA and Special Forces teams against Saddam. If covert attempts fail, some expect President Bush to try military action.

Iraq's parliament voted unanimously on Monday to back military preparations to repel any U.S. attack aimed at toppling the Iraqi government.