21 May 2003
Rumsfeld Repeats Accusation That Iran Harbors Al Qaeda Leaders
(Meets with Bahrain Defense Force commander-in-chief) (700) Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld says there is "no question" that senior leaders of al Qaeda are in Iran, and he adds that "they're busy." Rumsfeld, speaking May 21 in Washington in a joint media availability with Bahrain's Defense Force Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, made the accusation against Iran in response to a question from the press. He thanked Bahrain for its assistance in the rebuilding of Iraq, particularly with regard to hospitals and the port of Umm Qasr. Shaikh Al-Khalifa said Bahrain is working closely with the United States on Iraq "to make sure that the effort to liberate the Iraqi people is successful and it's concluded in a manner that is good for them and for the region as a whole." He also praised President Bush for his leadership in the war against terror, describing it as "a leadership that we support and are proud to be a part of." Following is a transcript of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and Bahraini Defense Force commander-in-chief Shaikh Al-Khalifa: (begin transcript) U.S. Department of Defense News Briefing Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 11:41 a.m. EDT (Joint media availability with Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, crown prince and Bahrain Defense Force commander-in-chief, Kingdom of Bahrain.) Rumsfeld: Good morning. Al-Khalifa: Good morning. Rumsfeld: I -- we have just had a meeting, one of a long series -- I guess they've stretched over close to 100 years, the relationship between our two countries. And I was able to thank His Highness, the crown prince of Bahrain, for the wonderful support that they have provided. They're assisting in Iraq with assistance in Umm Qasr; they're assisting with respect to offered assistance on hospitals. And we are very grateful for their friendship and their support in so many different ways. So, Your Highness, if you would like to say a word or two, we're very pleased you're here in the Pentagon. Al-Khalifa: Well, it's, as always, a great pleasure to be here in the Pentagon. We've had a very long relationship that we're very proud of. We continue to work very closely with the United States to make sure that the effort to liberate the Iraqi people is successful and it's concluded in a manner that is good for them and for the region as a whole. Rumsfeld: We'd be happy to respond a few questions. Question: Sir, a question for Your Highness. NBC News. This morning, Ayman Zawahiri apparently released an audiotape which threatened additional attacks and talked about some of the state in the Gulf region that have been allied with the United States in the war on terror and in the war against Iraq. How concerned are you about possible attacks in Bahrain and elsewhere in the Gulf? How credible do you consider this tape? Al-Khalifa: I think these guys are the enemy of free people anywhere, and we must work together with all of the coalition in the war against terror to ensure that their capability to finance, to transport and to execute acts of terror are significantly diminished. There's always a risk, but the war on terror is ongoing. I see no relention in the efforts of anyone involved, and that is largely due to the leadership provided here in the United States by President Bush, and it's a leadership that we support and are proud to be a part of. Q: Mr. Secretary, is there any indication that, in fact, al Qaeda was running the operation in Saudi Arabia from Iran and that, in fact, some of those leaders -- those al Qaeda leaders -- have left Iran now? And what is your belief of the level of Iranian government knowledge of al Qaeda's activities there? Rumsfeld: Well, I'll leave the analysis to others, but just from a factual standpoint, there's no question but that there have been -- and are today -- senior al Qaeda leaders in Iran. And they're busy. Any other questions? Thank you very much. Al-Khalifa: Thank you. (end transcript) (Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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