12 February 2002
Powell Says Bush Administration Looking for Peaceful Solutions
(Says "Axis of Evil" accurately describes Iran, Iraq, N. Korea) (620)
By Phillip Kurata
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- Secretary of State Colin Powell said the Bush
administration has no plan for conflict with Iran, Iraq or North
Korea. But, he said the administration is looking at a variety of
options for regime change in Iraq.
President Bush "has no plan before him right now that is a plan for a
conflict," Powell said in testimony before the Senate Budget Committee
in Washington February 12.
President Bush called Iraq, Iran and North Korea the "axis of evil" in
his State of the Union speech on January 22. Before the Senate Budget
Committee, Powell said the "axis of evil" phrase describes "a
clear-headed, realistic policy."
"Most people understand the president is not looking for a war, we're
looking for peace. But you don't get peace by sticking your head in
the sand and ignoring evil where it exists," Powell said.
The secretary said the United States seeks dialogue and peaceful
solutions but will not ignore its ultimate responsibilities if
diplomacy and political action are not successful.
Turning to Iraq, Powell said the United States is working to improve
the sanctions on the Iraqis "to make sure they do not succeed in their
horrible quest to develop weapons of mass destruction."
He added the United States is examining its options with respect to
regime change because the Bush administration believes "the people of
the region, the people of the world, and the people of Iraq would be
better off with a new regime."
Powell said the Bush administration has a dialogue with Iran despite
the absence of diplomatic relations. He noted that Iran played helpful
roles in the Bonn conference that set up the interim authority in
Afghanistan and in the Tokyo conference on the reconstruction of
Afghanistan.
At the same, Powell said Iran has been engaged in "troubling" actions
involving trying to ship arms into western Afghanistan. Powell noted
that Iran continues to develop weapons of mass destruction and the
means of delivering them.
With respect to North Korea, Powell said the United States offers
dialogue and provides fuel and food while keeping 37,000 troops in
South Korea as a deterrent to North Korean aggression.
Commenting on the Middle East, Powell said President Bush "will not
rest" until a cease-fire is established and negotiations based on the
Mitchell peace plan are resumed between Israelis and Palestinians.
Ultimately, the Bush administration envisions "two states living
side-by-side in that troubled land -- one the Jewish state called
Israel, the other, a Palestinian state called Palestine," Powell said.
Powell said he received a letter from Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat
on February 10 regarding the Karine A ship that Israeli forces
captured in the Red Sea in early January carrying 50 tons of arms
destined for the Palestinian Authority.
The secretary called the letter "somewhat positive" and said the Bush
administration is in contact with Arafat and his close associates
about doing more to stop terrorist attacks against Israel. Powell said
he believes that Arafat has the authority to crackdown on terrorism,
calling him the "elected leader of the Palestinian Authority."
Powell rejected a recommendation from Senator Robert Byrd that the
United States condition its nearly $5 billion in combined annual aid
to Israel and Egypt on progress toward peace between Israelis and
Palestinians.
The secretary said Egypt has been "enormously supportive" of the U.S.
peace efforts and has been applying pressure to Arafat to bring the
violence under control.
As for Israel, Powell said it would be a misguided policy to threaten
to withhold funds at time that Israel is suffering from terrorist
attacks
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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