28 August 2002
Debate On Iraq Not About Existence of Problem, But How To Solve It
(Boucher says U.S. regime change policy is not new) (1880) Addressing U.S. and international concerns about Iraq, State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said that "everybody understands that there is a problem; the question is how to deal with it." Speaking at the August 28 State Department press briefing in Washington, Boucher said the U.S. policy advocating an end to Saddam Hussein's regime has "been our policy for many years. [Secretary of State Colin Powell] talked about regime change in Iraq at his confirmation hearings, even before he took office." Boucher acknowledged that currently "there is a lot of debate and discussion" about how to confront the dangers posed by Iraq's pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. That discussion, he said, goes on within the United States as well as abroad. "There's been a great deal of commentary from people in former administrations or formerly with the government, people who are private citizens, commentators who express their view," he said. Boucher made his comments after retired Marine Corps General Anthony Zinni, who has served the Bush Administration as an advisor on Israeli-Palestinian security issues, voiced his concerns on August 23 over a possible war between the United States and Iraq to an audience in Florida. "We're making clear every day in our press briefings, as well as our statements to other governments, that the president at this point has not made a decision," said Boucher. However, he reminded journalists that many within the United States and in the international community share the Bush Administration's concern over the dangers posed by Iraq. "We have had U.N. resolutions that everybody supported and continues to support. We've had a new system of controls on military goods not going to Iraq, that everybody supported and continues to support," said Boucher. Following are excerpts from the August 28 State Department briefing on Iraq: (begin excerpt) QUESTION: I'm assuming that the entire phenomenon, that you would regard phenomenon of anti-Americanism as it's a giant misperception by the rest of the world. (Laughter.) So in keeping along those lines, there's another misperception out there that seems to be despite everyone saying that the President has not made up his mind about what to do with Iraq, the rest of the world seems to think that he has. And a lot of people, and particularly among allies in Europe, are now really quite upset, especially by what the Vice President had to say the other day. One, is this misperception, which I assume you're still going to say that's a misperception that he has decided, is that -- how great a concern is that to you guys? And two, what are you doing to counteract and reassure these people that, in fact, no decision really has been made yet? MR. BOUCHER: We're making clear every day in our press briefings, as well as our statements to other governments, that the President at this point has not made a decision. We recognize there is a lot of debate and discussion about how to deal with the dangers that are posed by the Iraqi regime and by its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. This is a discussion that goes on within the United States, as you know, as well as outside it. And the President made clear we'll continue to talk to other governments and consult with them and hear their views as he decides how to go forward. QUESTION: But are there any -- is it posing -- is this misperception out there posing any problems in the conduct of other foreign policy matters, or is there a concern that it may? MR. BOUCHER: I wouldn't speculate on that at this point about concerns that it may. It's quite clear that everybody who does address these issues addresses them in the context of the extensive cooperation that we already have, both to fight terrorism and to deal with the problems of Iraq. We have had UN resolutions that everybody supported and continues to support. We've had a new system of controls on military goods not going to Iraq that everybody supported and continues to support. So I think the debate on how to deal with the dangers that are posed by Iraq's continuing pursuit of weapons of mass destruction is in that context of our broader cooperation. Everybody understands that there is a problem. The question is how to deal with it. QUESTION: I know that you went over this a bit yesterday, but was there a decision that was taken recently that the policy of the government was "regime change for Iraq," or, I mean, you could say this has been the policy, but it seems that we've been hearing more and more about it. Doug Feith on Friday gave an interview to Iraqi people. It was translated into Arabic saying we envision Iraq free where people are rising up against Saddam Hussein. And is that, then would that mean that we would completely -- you know, is that what maybe these other European and Arab leaders are reacting to, because there is a decision that we were seeking a new regime for Iraq? MR. BOUCHER: But that's been our policy for many years. The Secretary talked about regime change in Iraq at his confirmation hearings even before he took office. So I think everybody knows that regime change is the policy of the United States, has been for many years, and everybody knows that the dangers that Iraq poses by developing weapons of mass destruction is something that the United States believes we really need to deal with; that this is not something, as the Vice President said, is not something you can let go on and fester until they do or do not succeed in getting these weapons. We already know from previous history and inspections they will use the weapons when they have them and they are still trying to cheat and hide on their obligations. So the issue is not something created by the United States. The issue is something created by the fact that Iraq continues to defy the international community and continues to pose a danger to the international community by pursuing these programs. Terri. QUESTION: Did the State Department or its missions overseas get a lot of calls after the Vice President's speech thinking that that had ratcheted things up quite a bit? Did you have to explain that this was merely restating, a restating of US policy? MR. BOUCHER: I don't know how many calls we got. Certainly after any significant policy statement, our embassies not only get calls, but they take a proactive approach. The make available transcripts and texts of things that we've said, and to any calls they might get they provide the facts and the information. QUESTION: So nobody was too alarmed that you know of? MR. BOUCHER: Well, you've seen plenty of press commentaries by people. Whether they said it in the press or called us, as well, I don't know in every case. But there have certainly been various reactions, one might say. ----- QUESTION: Still on Iraq. To add to the chorus of people that disapprove of the discussions on Iraq, General Zinni came out and was quite harsh in his appraisal, saying that he equated this to perhaps a Bay of Goats, that he says that attacking Iraq would derail the war on terrorism, jeopardize the United States presence in Afghanistan, and terminate the prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian agreement. Those people -- all the generals seem to think alike, but those who've not participated -- MR. BOUCHER: I read the story, too. You don't have to quote everything. Actually, I read the one two days ago, too. QUESTION: Yes. MR. BOUCHER: I don't have any particular comment on what any private individual has had to say on this topic. There's been a great deal of commentary from people in former administrations or formerly with the government, people who are private citizens, commentators who express their view. General Zinni does any number of things now, giving speeches, teaching classes, he works on Aceh, and he works for us, has worked for us at times, on the issue of security for the Israelis and the Palestinians. And I think the last time he was active in that regard was earlier this year, but that's really the only subject on which he's done work for us. QUESTION: Is he still working? MR. BOUCHER: Yeah, he still -- you know, we still have a contract. You know, activate when needed, and at this point we haven't done that for six months or so. (Laughter.) QUESTION: Well, I mean, this may be a hypothetical-- MR. BOUCHER: But I mean, you know, he's doing this one thing for us. The rest of his life is his life and the rest of what he says is what he says. QUESTION: Well, given the fact that he's publicly expressed these views which -- on Iraq, would that in any way affect thinking about maybe sending him back to work in his envoy duties? MR. BOUCHER: I don't know. If that issue of sending him back in this, I think, Senior Advisor to the Secretary on Israeli-Palestinian Issues -- Senior Advisor is what we usually called him -- you know, if the instance comes up where we want to do that again, whether this would affect it or not I don't know. (end excerpt) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
