January 23, 2003	Thursday	Ziqa’ad 19, 1423

WASHINGTON: President George W. Bush will use his State of the Union speech next week to underscore the threat posed by Iraq but will not deliver an ultimatum to Baghdad or declare war, White House officials said. Bush will promote his proposals for spurring growth in the US economy, letting religious organizations compete for federal funding and adding a prescription drug benefit for seniors.

Whether he would again mention the phrase “axis of evil” was unclear, but aides said he still believed in it.—Reuters