on Sunday, Nov. 15, 1998
MODERATOR/PANELIST: Tim Russert
- NBC News
MR. RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday
morning: Yesterday, just 30 minutes before the missiles were due to be
launched, Saddam Hussein changed his mind. The weapons inspectors could
return to Iraq. Will this latest promise prevent war or is he tricking
us once again? We'll get the Iraqi view from their ambassador to the U.N.,
Nizar Hamdoon.
Then we'll talk with the man in
charge of the U.N. weapons inspection program, Ambassador Richard Butler.
Does the United States have the
resolve to force Saddam Hussein to keep his word? We'll ask former weapons
inspector Scott Ritter, who resigned in August protesting American weakness.
Might the only solution be the
elimination of Saddam Hussein? We'll ask Republican Senator Richard Lugar
and former Democratic Senator Sam Nunn.
And finally, an exclusive with
the oldest and most famous astronaut, John Glenn, in his first interview
since returning from space. John Glenn right here on MEET THE PRESS.
But first, the crisis in Iraq.
Let us bring you up to date. Yesterday, just 30 minutes before missiles
were to be launched, Saddam Hussein produced a letter saying the United
Nations inspectors would be allowed back in. Two more letters were sent
by the Iraqis pleading that the bombs not be sent. The Security Council
met until late last night. They have agreed to go back in at 3:30 this
afternoon to make a determination as to what should be done.
Sandy Berger, the president's
national security adviser, spent the night at the White House, actually
sleeping on his couch. He'll be meeting with the president again at noon
in the Oval Office. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has returned
from Malaysia. She'll be participating in meetings throughout the day.
The United States must make a determination as to whether or not they can
trust Saddam Hussein's latest promise.
Early this morning I spoke with
Saddam Hussein's man at the United Nations, Nizar Hamdoon.
Mr. Ambassador, do you believe
this crisis will be resolved peacefully later this afternoon?
AMB. HAMDOON: Well, it's difficult
to talk about belief in this context but I can talk about my hope. My hope
is that this crisis will be resolved peacefully. And I think it's very
important not only for Iraq, but probably for the rest of the region over
there, that this crisis be solved peacefully and that it could lead to
some path that will help out in the process of both implementing United
Nations resolutions and, also, removing the sanctions off the Iraqi people.
MR. RUSSERT: You will allow complete
access for the United Nations inspectors?
AMB. HAMDOON: Absolutely.
MR. RUSSERT: They will go anywhere
at any time?
AMB. HAMDOON: Under the relevant
U.N. resolutions and the memorandum of understanding that was signed back
in February. Yes, obviously, we'll be allowing all of that.
MR. RUSSERT: And how long can
they stay in Iraq? For weeks, months, years if they find it necessary to
stay that long to do their job?
AMB. HAMDOON: No, they can stay
any time they want, but obviously, I mean, this whole process would not
be going endlessly.
MR. RUSSERT: But if the inspectors
want to have surprise inspections, even at the so-called presidential palaces
or any facility in Iraq, that will be allowed?
AMB. HAMDOON: Surprise inspections
are allowed in Iraq. Except for the presidential sites, we have had an
agreement back in February, which has laid down modalities that was accepted
by the secretary- general and were accepted also by the Security Council
with all those members, and we will go along those terms under the memorandum
of February.
MR. RUSSERT: As you know, the
reason that these inspections occur was the cease-fire or surrender Iraq
signed after the Persian Gulf War, and let me just read you exactly what
it says. "Iraq shall unconditionally accept the destruction, removal or
rendering harmless all chemical and biological weapons, all stocks of agents
and all related subsystems and components and all research, development,
support and manufacturing facilities." Will Iraq completely stop and surrender
their chemical and biological warfare program?
AMB. HAMDOON: Well, that's exactly
what Iraq has been doing. And there has been some disputes about the level
and the ratio of implementation, and we are prepared, under the comprehensive
review, to address the issue and to try to convince the council that we
have done the basic requirements under that resolution.
MR. RUSSERT: But you will suspend
your entire program, no exception whatsoever? All biological, chemical,
nuclear weapons will be eliminated completely?
AMB. HAMDOON: Yes, we have agreed
to that and we are in the process of doing this.
MR. RUSSERT: As you know, credibility
and truthfulness are at issue here. Let me read to you an editorial from
The Washington Post just a few weeks ago. It says that, "Weapons experts
from seven countries have confirmed what American investigators reported
months ago: that Iraq loaded deadly VX nerve gas into missile warheads.
Iraq had lied about this before U.N. investigators found the warhead fragments.
It lied about it again after the discovery, maintaining that U.S. analyses
were flawed by anti- Iraq bias."
AMB. HAMDOON: Well, that remains
to be seen. That's an opinion of The Washington Post, but not necessarily
a fact of life, because the VX tests have been taking place not only in
the United States, but also in France and Switzerland, which have not shown
any indication, any traces of a VX agent. Iraq has disputed the American
tests in the beginning, and we have requested an arbitration by other laboratories,
which has taken another-samples from the same spot. Those samples have
come up with a negative outcome.
MR. RUSSERT: These are 21 scientists
from seven different countries. Do you deny that Iraq ever used VX nerve
gas?
AMB. HAMDOON: We still deny that
we have produced any stable form of VX that could be weaponized.
MR. RUSSERT: Why did you kick
out the inspectors to begin with?
AMB. HAMDOON: Well, we have problems
in getting some kind of an understanding that this process cannot go endlessly,
and Iraq was frustrated, and we tried to bring the attention of the international
community and of the Security Council, and I think we've succeeded in getting
good hearing, not only in our region, but also in the world at large, and
now we are at a point that we have decided, based on the appeals of the
secretary-general and of the Russian Federation president, that we will
give it a try, to try to find a better way, a more constructive way of
dealing with the Security Council and with UNSCOM and the IAEA.
MR. RUSSERT: But when the headlines
read: "Iraq capitulates, Saddam caves in," you wouldn't disagree with that?
AMB. HAMDOON: Yes, I do disagree
with this.
MR. RUSSERT: Well, the inspectors
are going back in and allowed complete and total access. That's a totally
different position than Saddam took just two weeks ago.
AMB. HAMDOON: We have decided
to give it a chance because peace, stability, preventing war, I think,
is a noble goal that everyone will have to try to reach out to.
MR. RUSSERT: What will happen
at 3:00 today before the U.N. Security Council?
AMB. HAMDOON: Well, we'll see.
I mean, according to last night-yesterday's meeting, the different delegation,
the majority of them, I will say, have accepted Iraq's letter that was
addressed to the secretary-general, but obviously still there's a minority,
including the United States, that still believe in the opposite.
MR. RUSSERT: Do you believe the
United States will ever go along with the lifting of economic sanctions
against Iraq as long as Saddam Hussein stays in power?
AMB. HAMDOON: Well, I think that
the U.S., just like any other member state in the Security Council, it
will have to honor international law. It will have to honor the Security
Council resolutions.
MR. RUSSERT: Mr. Ambassador, we
thank you for joining us on MEET THE PRESS.
AMB. HAMDOON: Thank you.
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