DoD News Briefing
Thursday, November 5, 1998 - 1:30 p.m.
Presenter: Capt. Mike Doubleday, USN, DASD (PA)
..............
Q: Mike, Ken Bacon has issued a couple of statements released here since he's traveling with the SecDef. The latest one says that the SecDef came away from his talks in the Gulf confident of support for any action that the United States might take to uphold the U.N. sanctions.
Does that mean that the leaders in these Gulf states have given the United States the go-ahead to launch any raids from their territories on Iraq? Can you make that clear?
A: Charlie, actually I'm not going to be able to add anything to Ken's statement. I think it's very clear that the Secretary came away from his visits feeling that any of the support that the United States needs to take appropriate action to uphold U.N. Security Council Resolutions is there. And he is continuing his trip right now, will actually return to Washington sometime late Friday evening after what Ken has characterized as a very successful visit.
Q: The statement from Ken mentions that he's going to Jordan and to Egypt and Turkey. Is he going elsewhere in Europe before he comes home, or will those be his final three stops?
A: Let me just give you a rundown on what happened today. He started the day in Qatar, went from Qatar to stops in Oman, in the United Arab Emirates, in Egypt, and they are presently in Jordan. Tomorrow's stops include Turkey, and there will be a stop in Paris where he will have an opportunity to consult with some military and civilian officials there before he returns to Washington.
Q: Including the Defense Minister?
A: I don't believe the Defense Minister is going to be able to meet with the Secretary because of a budget presentation that's going on, but there will be other officials who will meet with the Secretary and other members of the party during that brief stop in Paris.
Q: Will there be any press coverage allowed of his return to Washington Friday evening?
A: We'll certainly do everything we can to facilitate that, but let me get back to you on what we're going to do there.
Q: How do you square the statement of successful talks with some of the rather vociferous statements that have emerged from the Middle East, that the United States is acting like a "craven rat" for Israel, but not showing support for Arab causes in the Middle East? Some of the rhetoric has been pretty hot describing the Secretary's visits there.
A: I acknowledge that there's been some rather hot rhetoric attributed to unidentified sources in various locations in the Gulf area, but I think that everything that I have heard indicates that the Secretary at this point feels that he's had a good series of meetings with officials throughout the Gulf region, and he's confident that the U.S. will have the support it needs to take appropriate action to uphold the U.N. Security Council Resolutions.
Q: Don't you find it curious that no country in the Gulf has publicly echoed the sentiments that the U.S. is claiming that they heard from them?
A: Actually, I can't characterize exactly what the mindset is over there, but I can communicate to you what Ken Bacon's assessment is of the trip so far, and I think the President has earlier today spoken on this and has given something of the same assessment.
Any more on this one?
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Q: Can you give us some assessment as to the seriousness of not having the inspectors able to do their jobs? How long does it take for Iraq to reconstitute? How grave a situation is it? Therefore, how much time do we have?
A: I don't think I've ever seen anything that specifies an exact timetable. But I think all of us in the U.S. Government that watch this thing feel that the inspections that are done by the U.N. inspectors are very important. In the past we've pointed to the fact that there are more weapons of mass destruction that have been destroyed as a result of these inspections than were destroyed during the Gulf War. This regime that was set up by the U.N. in the aftermath of the Gulf War was designed to do exactly that, which was to dismantle the weapons of mass destruction stockpiles that the Iraqis had, and to get a full accounting of the program that exists. As long as the inspectors are not able to do their jobs, there is a good opportunity that Saddam Hussein is taking action to reconstitute his weapons.
Q: How about the monitoring cameras and the chemical air sniffers? Don't they give you some important information?
A: Yes. All of that adds to it, but the inspection program is not limited just to those cameras and to the sniffers. Everyone is in full agreement that it's important for the inspection team to get back to work to do the important work that has to be done to get this full accounting that we're all looking for.
Q: What provisions, if any, have you made to be able to rapidly build up forces again in the Gulf region if that becomes necessary?
A: I don't want to go into too much specifics on this, but there are forces, as you might imagine, that have already been identified that could be called into action and moved to that area as well as other areas that may require military involvement. That can be done in a matter of a very few days.
Q: Can I change the subject?
A: Are we finished with Iraq? Okay. Let's go on to another one.
Q: On to Osama bin Laden and those who have been indicted with him. Specifically from that indictment, Mike, it appears that this terrorist group has tried to obtain weapons of mass destruction, especially chemical weapons and nuclear weapons. I would ask if the DoD and the rest of this government is treating bin Laden as a very dangerous threat, a nuclear threat very possibly? Is that something that's on the agenda?
A: I think that certainly the actions that were taken in the aftermath of the embassy bombings and this recent action by the Department of Justice regarding Osama bin Laden is a clear indication that indeed we do consider him a very real threat, and an individual that should be brought to justice for the long list of crimes that he has perpetrated.
Q: Can you tell us anything about his association with the Iraqi's weapon of mass destruction industry or...
A: I have nothing for you on that subject.
.............. Press: Thank you.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov1998/t11051998_t1105asd.html
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