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25 September 2002

U.S. Does Not Stand Alone on Iraq, Rumsfeld Tells Polish TV

(He also says rebuilding U.S.-German ties "depends on people's
behavior") (740)
In a interview with Polish TVN/TVN 24 on September 23, U.S. Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld took issue with what he termed the "media
fixation" on those countries that do not fully agree with U.S. policy
on Iraq "instead of all the countries that do agree."
"It sometimes sounds like the United States stands alone. That's just
not true," he said.
Iraq has violated 16 UN resolutions, Rumsfeld noted. If the United
Nations wants "to be relevant and have a role in the world," he said,
"it can't do nothing."
Rumsfeld declined to comment on the outcome of the German elections,
but when asked his opinion of the German justice minister's comparison
of President Bush to Hitler, he characterized it as "disgraceful."
Asked the remark's effect on German-American relations, he replied:
"Well, as the White House says, it has the effect of poisoning."
(begin transcript)
U.S. Department of Defense 
Monday, September 23, 2002
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD H. RUMSFELD INTERVIEW WITH TOMASZ LIS,
TVN/TVN 24
(Interview with Tomasz Lis, TVN/TVN 24. The interview was aired on TVN
and TVN 24 during its prime time newscast. Although Secretary Rumsfeld
and Tomasz Lis both spoke in English, the entire interview was voiced
over into Polish. This transcript is based on the Polish translation.)
LEAD IN BY LIS: Donald Rumsfeld is one of the strongest advocates of a
hard line toward Iraq. To a great extent it depends on him if, how and
when there will be war with Iraq. A few hours ago I spoke with him.
Here are some fragments.
LIS: ...before I go to Iraq - sort of - I would like to ask you if you
are pleased with the results of the German election and the victory of
Chancellor Schroeder, who in many ways brought German American
relations to a low point.
RUMSFELD: I don't have an opinion about the outcome.
LIS: None at all? 
RUMSFELD: About the outcome?
LIS: About Chancellor Schroeder? Are you happy about the SPD victory?
RUMSFELD: I have no opinion about it. That is for the German people to
decide.
LIS: What do you think when you hear about the German justice minister
comparing President Bush to Hitler?
RUMSFELD: I think it is disgraceful.
LIS: Just that? What influence will it have on the German-American
relationship?
RUMSFELD: Well, as the White House says, it has the effect of
poisoning.
LIS: And how long will it take to rebuild?
RUMSFELD: I suppose that depends on people's behavior.
LIS: Should they correct themselves? 
RUMSFELD: That's not for me to say.
LIS: Yesterday you said that the President had not made a decision
about if or when he would attack Iraq.
RUMSFELD: I thought I was quite clear. The President has made a
decision that something must be done. That's why he went to the United
Nations and said that Iraq has systematically violated 16 resolutions
of that body and that if they want to be relevant and have a role in
the world it can't do nothing.
LIS: Probably Saddam Hussein is not going to comply with U.S. demands
and UN resolutions, but it may take months or at least weeks to have
the proof to make it obvious that he does not want to comply with
demands and resolutions. How long can you wait?
RUMSFELD: Well that's not for me. That is a decision for the UN, the
American Congress and the President.
LIS: And the UN, if they don't agree on new resolutions, are you
willing to act unilaterally?
RUMSFELD: My impression is that they are discussing resolutions right
now.
LIS: But you know it's like when you take into considerations the
Chinese, Russians and the French are not enthusiastic about...
RUMSFELD: it is interesting to me that the media is fixed on the
countries that do not agree instead of all the countries that do
agree.
LIS: There are five members of the Security Council. Two are
supporting and three are rather against. Let's say, not supporting the
resolutions.
RUMSFELD: Time will tell. The President just began this process. When
he addressed the United Nations, he took the first step. It sometimes
sounds like the United States stands alone. That's just not true.
LIS: I guess Newsweek Magazine called you the American hawk in
chief...
RUMSFELD: Oh, now that's silly.
LIS: You don't agree?
RUMSFELD: I am appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S.
Senate. My task is to follow the policies of the President and that's
what I do.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)