WARNING In his first State of the Union address, Bush told Congress and the nation that the U.S. "will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons." SCRIPPS HOWARD PHOTO SERVICE/BILL CLARK

Vowing to remain steadfast in the war on terrorism, Bush pledged to prevent those terrorists and nations that "seek chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons from threatening the U.S. and the world." He said the U.S. "will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons."

Bush fingered North Korea, Iran, and Iraq as part of an "axis of evil" whose efforts to acquire and export weapons of mass destruction would no longer be allowed. By naming names, Bush signaled a broadening of the war on terrorism beyond the al Qaeda terrorists that collaborated with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Bush said the budget he is sending to Congress this week would support the war on terror, protect the homeland, and revive the sagging economy. At $48 billion for fiscal 2003, Bush said he is requesting "the largest increase in defense spending in two decades."

Bush also said he is doubling the funding for homeland security. His nearly $38 billion request for 2003 will focus on bioterrorism, emergency response, improved intelligence, and enhanced airport and border security. He cited spin-off benefits from this investment: improved public health, safer neighborhoods, and tighter control of illicit drugs.

Finally, Bush called for economic security, the fulcrum of which is better jobs. Such jobs, he said, are dependent on better education, expanded trade, "sound tax policy," and "reliable and affordable energy." He asked Congress to "act to encourage conservation, promote technology, build infrastructure, and ... increase energy production at home."

Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.), in offering the Democratic response, focused on themes strikingly similar to Bush's. Gephardt called for bipartisan cooperation in "creating jobs by investing in technology so America can continue to lead the world in growth and opportunity."

ACS President Eli M. Pearce finds "little specific reference to investment in science and technology education and research with regard to the war on terrorism and to national economic problems" in either speech. "This indicates to me," he adds, "that the scientific and technical communities have not yet created a strong and listened-to constituency" able to affect how the nation's leaders invest "in science education and research to tackle many of our major societal problems." (See page 33.)

The American Chemistry Council, however, finds much to like in the Bush address. ACC President Frederick L. Webber says that "creating good jobs and revitalizing our economy depend on a reliable and affordable energy supply" that is also environmentally friendly. ACC also supports Bush's call for fast-track trade promotion authority. And in the realm of security, Webber says the ACC Board of Directors recently asked "chemical makers to review every facility for potential security concerns and to take actions to make [them] even safer."

University of Pennsylvania terrorism expert Stephen Gale believes there is a need to integrate scientists, engineers, and the chemical industry into the government's national security effort. "We need to direct our energies to get R&D people working on those projects that can be used for national security measures," he says.

Despite his emphasis on national and homeland security, Bush, to Gale's chagrin, failed to mention "Tom Ridge's role in organizing, coordinating, and setting priorities across the federal government." Ridge directs the Office of Homeland Security.

FDR'S FOUR FREEDOMS FOR EVERYONE EVERYWHERE

• Freedom of speech and expression
• Freedom of every person to worship God in his own way
• Freedom from want
• Freedom from fear

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