President Bush will face the nation Tuesday night to rally support for the proposed war on Iraq during the annual State of the Union Address.

Robert Lowry, associate professor of political science, said the address is Bush’s time to explain why he believes war is the only option.

“The State of the Union tends to cover everything under the sun, but [this year’s] is a chance to make a case not only to Congress but also to the allies on why he thinks an invasion might be necessary,” Lowry said.

The address will air live at 8 p.m. Tuesday on most major networks. Lowry said Bush would also try to make an appeal to the American people to gain support for a war against Iraq, but isn’t sure what he can say that he hasn’t said before.

“Unless he says something he hasn’t already said, I don’t know how much difference it will make,” Lowry said.

Michael Horn, president of the Political Science Club, said he believes the main focus is going to be rallying the nation on why a pre-emptive attack is necessary and justified at this time.

More specifics need to be given about the situation with Iraq, but Horn, senior in political science, said he can’t see Bush giving up any information the United States has received.

Jeff Hall, ISU Greens faculty adviser, said Bush will try to convince people to support his decisions at the address.

“He will try to turn the tide of public opinion that’s been going the other way both nationally and internationally,” he said.

Andrew Smalley, chairman of the Story County Republicans, also said the impending war with Iraq would be the main focus of Bush’s address but he believes the condition of the economy will also be mentioned.

“I think it’s going to be split between the situation in Iraq and the economy,” he said.

“[He will use this time] to further enlighten the public about what Iraq has and hasn’t done in terms of the U.N. resolution on weapons of mass destruction,” Smalley said. “This would definitely be an opportunity for him to let America know what needs to be done and to clarify our position and how it affects our safety and security.”

Lowry said Bush will also discuss his proposed tax cut.

“He will probably claim that [the tax cut] is an economic stimulus package,” he said.

One of Bush’s reasons for the tax cut is that the smallest percentage of the population pay the largest percentage of taxes, Lowry said.

Horn said the tax cuts would focus on stock tax cuts to get the market to rally.

When comparing last year’s State of the Union address, which occurred four months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, this year’s address will be focused on convincing the American public that Iraq is a bigger threat than the search of al-Qaida members, Hall said

“He is trying to sell an unprecedented action while last year he was trying to react to an unprecedented event,” he said.

Lowry said the difference in this year’s address is the actual state of the union.

Last year the speech was still fresh in the minds of the American people and Bush reported on recent events, while this year has been less eventful, he said.

Horn said he believes Bush will focus on diplomatic initiatives on the Korean peninsula and military activity in Iraq.

“Last year, he was busy laying the groundwork, but this year he will focus on what needs to be done,” he said.

Smalley said terrorism would be mentioned again because there are still things being perpetrated against American holdings.

He said Americans need to be constantly on alert and terrorism needs to be an equal focus of the government.

“It’s a situation that can’t be forgotten, it has to be brought up again and again,” he said.

Horn also said it is important for college students to watch the State of the Union address because topics like the economy and a potential war directly affect students’ lives.