17 October 2001
Transcript: Armitage October 17 Interview on Metro TV, Indonesia
(Deputy Secretary of State says terrorism, not Islam, is target)
(1830)
"We're against terrorists and we're against murderers; we're very much
for the great religion of Islam, and we are all people of the Book,"
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage emphasized during an
October 17 interview on Metro TV of Indonesia.
Armitage said he rejected the theory that, with the Cold War over and
Communism no longer a threat, the western world's new enemy is Islam.
"I equally reject the thesis that the Taliban represents Islamic
values," he added.
"I don't think it's an Islamic value to repress people. I don't think
it's an Islamic value to use food as a weapon against your people. I
think quite the contrary: the values of Islam are values of generosity
and are values of spirituality, not of repression," he elaborated.
In order to convince Indonesians that the U.S. military strikes
against Afghanistan were meant to target terrorism, not Islam,
Armitage said he would "ask our friends in Indonesia, whether you live
in Jakarta or anywhere else, to think how you'd feel if this happened
in your great country, if you had suffered this terrible attack."
"Perhaps, I think, if you look at it that way, then friends in
Indonesia can see that the United States and the coalition have a
right to act as we're acting," he said.
Armitage said it is the view of the United States that Indonesia "has
been generally supportive of the U.S. activity, and "we are counting
on that to continue."
"We can't imagine any government which is intent on having terrorist
cells thrive inside the fabric of society. So I suspect if we found
terrorist cells and could identify them in Indonesia, that the
Government of Indonesia would do the right thing," he said.
Asked to comment about civilians being bombed by the United States in
Afghanistan, Armitage replied: "More than 5,000 of our citizens died
... in the World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings ... And though I'm
sorry for the loss of innocent life in Afghanistan, I think the cause
of this was the al-Qaida network, and unfortunately, the Taliban,
which allowed the shark of al-Qaida to swim within their seas."
Following is the transcript of the interview:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
October 17, 2001
Interview of
Deputy Secretary of State
Richard Armitage
On Metro TV of Indonesia
October 17, 2001
Washington, D.C.
9:30 p.m. Local Time (Indonesia)
QUESTION: Good morning, Secretary Armitage.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: How do you do?
QUESTION: How much has the anti-American sentiment in Indonesia, such
as demonstrations and (inaudible) threats, affected the US investments
here? If the situation deteriorates, will the US leave operations of
US companies in the hands of local professionals?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, we've had, unfortunately for our
friends in Indonesia, three years of difficulty -- economic difficulty
and political difficulty -- and I haven't noticed a major change in
the US investment profile in Indonesia. I think our major US companies
have made the decision that Indonesia is a friendly place, it's a good
place to do business, and that we'd like to do our best to stay there
and be good partners.
QUESTION: All right. About three days ago, President Megawati
Sukarnoputri has criticized the US military attack on Afghanistan.
Because of this, where does the US stand for its military aid and
training for the Indonesian military, as promised to her during her
last visit in Washington, DC?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, when President Megawati Sukarnoputri
came to Washington, President Bush was very pleased to receive her,
and they had a good conversation. And it is our view that Indonesia
has been generally supportive of the US activity. And we are counting
on that to continue. I don't want to speculate on a hypothetical
situation.
We certainly do want to have a relationship with Indonesia across the
board to a breadth and to a depth that is comfortable for our
Indonesian friends. And that breadth and the depth will be decided by
Indonesia, and we will abide by the decision.
QUESTION: All right. What is your message for Indonesia, which has the
largest Muslim population in the world? How do you convince
Indonesians that your military strike is, as you said, against
terrorism, not Islam?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I think first of all I would have to
say that we're trying to make the point that Islam is one of the great
religions of the world. It is very respected here in the United
States. You would note that our president, two or three days after the
attack on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, went to visit the
Islamic Center in Washington to make just that point. We're against
terrorists and we're against murderers; we're very much for the great
religion of Islam, and we are all people of the Book.
Moreover, I would ask our friends in Indonesia, whether you live in
Jakarta or anywhere else, to think how you'd feel if this happened in
your great country, if you had suffered this terrible attack. Perhaps,
I think, if you look at it that way, then friends in Indonesia can see
that the United States and the coalition have a right to act as we're
acting.
QUESTION: All right. Well, the US recently mentioned that Usama's
networking includes the ones in the Philippines, Malaysia and
Indonesia. If the US is to do a (inaudible) operation, will it be
doing that with the Indonesian Government or without Jakarta?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, first of all, the network and the
cells of Usama bin Laden are in many more locations than the
Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. Our friends in Germany and France
and indeed Australia have been very active in disrupting bin Laden's
cells.
More specifically, in answer to your question, I'd say that we'd
prefer to act with the assistance of the government. We can't imagine
any government which is intent on having terrorist cells thrive inside
the fabric of society. So I suspect if we found terrorist cells and
could identify them in Indonesia, that the Government of Indonesia
would do the right thing.
QUESTION: Okay. Going back a little bit on that statement that you --
Usama bin Laden networking is in Southeast Asia, some of Southeast
Asia countries. On what ground did you base this statement?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: On the grounds of having received
intelligence from many countries around the world, and having
particularly since the 11th of September very rigorously, alongside
friends from the international community, sought further understanding
of the bin Laden and al-Qaida network.
QUESTION: All right. I would like to quote Samuel Huntington. He said
that after the Cold War and Communism ended, Western world's enemies
are Islam. What is your comment on this, given the situation that the
US strikes are against the Taliban, which represent certain Islamic
values?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, let me try to answer your question in
two parts. First of all, I totally dismiss the theory of Sam
Huntington. I think Professor Huntington was looking for something to
write about after the Cold War, and I think he made a big mistake. And
I reject his thesis.
I equally reject the thesis that the Taliban represents Islamic
values. I don't think it's an Islamic value to repress people. I don't
think it's an Islamic value to use food as a weapon against your
people. I think quite the contrary: the values of Islam are values of
generosity and are values of spirituality, not of repression.
QUESTION: Okay. It's still in the context of his thesis, even though
you disagree on that. How does the US see its role in creating a new
peaceful world order after the Cold War?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: First of all, the United States, as a
multiethnic, multireligious democracy, will try to be a beacon of hope
and of friendship for all likeminded countries in the world. Regarding
Indonesia, for instance, we are the second largest trading partner of
Indonesia. And we realize that for Indonesians to have a very great
future, which we want for them, that we have to find jobs for the more
than 1.5 million Indonesians who enter the job force every year. We've
got a role that we can play in this, if Indonesia is willing to be a
partner, and we are certainly going to try to be a faithful and an
energetic partner for Indonesia, as well as other countries of
Southeast Asia.
I think this was evident by Secretary Powell's presence and
participation at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Hanoi this summer.
QUESTION: Okay. After the strong critiques from President Megawati
about the US strikes on Afghanistan, do you think the Indonesian and
the American relations will be getting worse after -- should the US
enter and do the land strikes in Afghanistan?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, without speculating on what we might
have to do to complete our objectives, I think we are intent on having
the type of relationship with Indonesia which befits the United States
and the largest Muslim country in the world, your country of
Indonesia. Now, we're going to be a good partner, and we'll be a
willing partner. But I think it will be up to Indonesians to decide if
they want to partner with us. And that's not a decision I can make
from Washington; it's not a decision any American can make. You and
your countrymen will have to come to your own minds about this.
QUESTION: Okay. The US said that it would limit its strikes in
Afghanistan, but after almost two weeks of the air strikes, civilians
and also the UN camps (inaudible) the Red Cross camp has been
bombarded as well. What is your comment on this, sir?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: My comment is that that appeared to be a
terrible and tragic accident, for which all of us are very sorry. I
would note that we really mourn the death of any individual. However,
more than 5,000 of our citizens died, and I might note that in the
World Trade Center and Pentagon bombings, hundreds of Muslims died as
well. And though I'm sorry for the loss of innocent life in
Afghanistan, I think the cause of this was the al-Qaida network, and
unfortunately, the Taliban, which allowed the shark of al-Qaida to
swim within their seas.
QUESTION: All right. That will be all, sir. Thank you very much for
giving us the opportunity to talk to you this morning. Good morning
and goodbye.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, thank you for the honor, and goodbye.
(The interview concluded at 9:42 p.m. Local Indonesian Time.)
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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