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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

03 August 2002

Transcript: Issue in Iraq is Not Inspections, but Disarmament, Powell Says

(Secretary discusses Iraq, Mideast, Philippine military in Manila
briefing) (1350)
Secretary of State Colin Powell, briefing in Manila August 3,
suggested that Iraq's intentions in offering in recent days to discuss
the Iraq weapons inspections issue with United Nations officials, was
"to find a way around their obligations."
"There is no need for further clarification or discussion of a
comprehensive approach," Powell said. "The approach is clear and
spelled out in appropriate U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Inspections aren't the issue; disarmament is the issue."
President Bush has said that he supports inspections, Powell said, but
the goal is not "inspection for inspection's sake." The goal, Powell
said, is disarmament and removal of "all capacity for weapons of mass
destruction."
He added that "the United States continues to believe that regime
change will be in the best interests of the Iraqi people, people of
the region and the world."
On U.S.-Philippine relations, Powell said the United States would
continue to help train Philippine military forces, but U.S. trainers
would not join in actual operations. In addition, he said, the United
States "is not interested in returning to the Philippines with bases
or a permanent presence."
On the Middle East, Powell condemned the bombing at Hebrew University
in Jerusalem July 31, but said "We have to continue to try to find a
way forward."
Following is a transcript the Powell briefing:
(begin transcript)
Press Briefing
Secretary Colin L. Powell Manila, Philippines
August 3, 2002
QUESTION: Sir, the Iraqis have written Secretary General Annan,
seeking a meeting with President Bush. Can you comment on this?
SECRETARY POWELL: The Iraqis have constantly tried to find a way
around their obligations with respect to inspections. They have met
several times now with Secretary General Kofi Annan and with Hans
Blix. They understand what is required of them. There is no need for
further clarification or discussion of a comprehensive approach. The
approach is clear and spelled out in appropriate U.N. Security Council
resolutions. Inspections aren't the issue; disarmament is the issue.
Making sure that they have no weapons of mass destruction and they did
what they said they were supposed to do, but we know that they
haven't, at the end of the Gulf War. So the issue is removal of all
weapons of mass destruction. Inspections were an attempt to get into
that question, and we should not allow the Iraqis to try to change the
goal posts or to come up with a new comprehensive approach. We have
seen this game before.
QUESTION: To follow up, Mr. Secretary, does that mean that you don't
want new inspections in Iraq?
SECRETARY POWELL: I did not say that.  What I said was rather clear.
QUESTION: It suggested that -- let me  -- 
SECRETARY POWELL: No, what I said was rather clear. We have seen the
Iraqis try to fiddle with the inspection regime before. There have
been several direct conversations between the Iraqis and Kofi Annan,
and they understand what is required. You could tell from language the
Iraqis have now sent us, a request to U.N., that they are looking for
comprehensive review, they are looking for some way to get out of the
clear requirement that they have. The President has previously said
that he supported inspections, but we have to understand clearly that
the goal is not inspection for inspection's sake. The goal has to be
disarmament and removal of all capacity for weapons of mass
destruction. Having said all of that within a U.N. context, the United
States continues to believe that regime change will be in the best
interests of the Iraqi people, people of the region and the world.
QUESTION: Are you concerned, though, that if they do admit new
inspectors, it will begin another long process, similar to what we
have seen before, and that it may be more difficult to move against
them militarily?
SECRETARY POWELL: We have not yet decided to make any moves
militarily. As we have said previously, the President does not have a
plan on his desk, and I don't want to get into the hypotheticals of
the future at this point.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, I believe we've reported that in the next
round of military training here in the Philippines, that the Pentagon
envisions American troops would operate at the company level and join
Filipino forces on some jungle patrol. Do you expect to discuss this
kind of detail with President Arroyo today, and is that decision, the
policy at the moment?
SECRETARY POWELL: I wouldn't expect us to get at that level of detail.
That is more appropriately done between two militaries and the two
defense establishments. I think that what is well known, however, is
that as part of our future cooperation with the Philippine Armed
Forces we will continue to assist them in training, perhaps at company
level, for the purpose of enhancing their proficiency. It will go back
to a more normal kind of military-to-military relationship, not quite
the way the exercises that just concluded - not that level or tempo.
And, no, there is no suggestion that our trainers are there for the
purpose of accompanying them into active operations, but to train.
QUESTION: Can you tell us what's the state of your talks with
Palestinians as when you --
SECRETARY POWELL: First of all let me join with everyone else in
condemning the bombing that took place at Hebrew University the other
day. I regret the loss of life and my sympathy goes to the families of
those who were lost. Nevertheless, it just means that we have to
continue to try to find a way forward. We have to continue to try to
find a way forward, which is the vision that the President laid out in
his 24 June speech, and that means that you have to talk to people. We
have been in constant consultation with the Arab leaders, with Israeli
leaders, and I am hoping that it will be possible to meet with
Palestinian leaders in the near future - Palestinian leaders who are
willing to take action, who are vested with authority to deal with us
as a way of moving forward. Now, when that meeting might take place,
and who would be available for such a meeting, I think I will have to
wait until I get back to Washington and see what the state of play is
on Monday.
Andrea?
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, there had been large demonstrations against
your visit here. Many Filipinos are saying that the U.S. is using this
war on terrorism as an excuse, to their contention, to re-insert
itself -- it's military presence, here in Southeast Asia.
SECRETARY POWELL: The Philippines is a place where people are free to
demonstrate, and that is in the nature of a democratic system. I
understand there were both demonstrations for the U.S. and against the
U.S. yesterday, and there may be more. But the fact of the matter is
the United States is not interested in returning to the Philippines
with bases or a permanent presence. We are doing everything consistent
with the agreement that we have with the Philippine government, and
there is no attempt to roll the clock back. It is not in our interest
or in the interest of the Philippine government. I was chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff when they made the decision to ask us to remove
our bases at Clark and Subic. At that time, it was disappointing to
me, but it was a bold decision on the part of the Filipino people that
they wish to have their sovereignty intact without foreign bases. We
respected that. We went forward as friends, and the relationship has
been restored, frankly, to a very, very sound footing. I look forward
to discussing all these issues with the President in a few moments.
Thank you, I really have to go.  See you all later.
(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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