Bush speech meant as weapons caution

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- A main point in U.S. President George Bush's state of the union speech was a call to countries to follow Libya's voluntary disarmament.

Jim Wilkinson, deputy national security adviser for communications, told reporters the speech was crafted to convey the nations of the world have the option of trying to develop weapons of mass destruction or voluntarily disarming, Voice of America reported.

"What his policy says is that regimes have a choice," Wilkinson said. "They can choose to pursue weapons of mass destruction at great peril, at great expense."

Wilkinson, a deputy assistant to President Bush, also highlighted the call in the speech to double the budget of the National Endowment for Democracy.

Wilkinson said the new money, about $40 million, will promote human rights, religious tolerance, free elections and freedom of the press in the Middle East.