12 December 2003
State's Armitage Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Transfer of Power in Iraq
Underscores need for retention of national unity
The United States is fully committed to realizing a transition of sovereignty to an Iraqi governing body by the end of June, according to Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.
In a December 12 interview with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation's Ghada Fakhry, Armitage said, "It's very ambitious, let me say that, and we have every intent, after having announced this publicly, to have this transition. So our job is to work as rigorously as possible to achieve that end."
When Fakhry raised a question about the orientation of the government that might emerge, Armitage responded, "I don't think it's reasonable to say that you want a democratic process in Iraq and then not accept ... the result that the democratic process brings forward. So we will accept whatever comes forward in Iraq and we'll deal accordingly."
Armitage underscored the importance of Iraq continuing to exist as a unified nation.
"Iraqis themselves, in the person of the Iraqi Governing Council, are trying to see their way clear to finally have a nation which will not and cannot descend into sectarian violence," he said.
However, he recognized the resistance of many Sunnis to the new state of affairs, which finds them deprived of exclusive control over the country.
"Our job and the coalition's job is to reach out to Sunni tribal leaders, make it very clear, in word and deed, that they do have a future in the political system of the new Iraq, that they do have a future in the economic vitality of the new Iraq, and that minority rights will be protected by the fundamental law and the new constitution," he said.
Armitage downplayed the recent diplomatic flurry regarding reconstruction contracts, pointing out that there are certain funds, administered by the United Nations and the World Bank, that are open to all bidders.
Following is the transcript of Armitage's interview:
(begin transcript)
Interview by Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation
Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage
Interview by Ghida Fakhry
Washington, DC
December 12, 2003
9:30 a.m. EST
MS. FAKHRY: Mr. Armitage, welcome to the program. And let me begin, first of all, by talking about the controversy surrounding your Administration's decision to exclude those countries that did not support the U.S. in its war in the Iraq from the contracts for the rebuilding of the country.
Now, this decision has been met with much criticism. Is this not a decision based on an issue of revenge and punishment against those countries?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I think there's a lot of misunderstanding about this policy. We think it's perfectly reasonable that the people who supported the people of Iraq should have access to U.S. taxpayer dollars; and all nations, every country, is eligible for subcontracts under our procedures.
Second of all, there is a certain amount of money -- in fact, a great deal of money -- to which all countries are also eligible: the Development Fund for Iraq and some of the World Bank money.
So I think this has been a controversy certainly, but one that hasn't been deeply understood.
MS. FAKHRY: But this decision, isn't it detrimental to any effort at unifying efforts on the reconstruction of Iraq?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I've noticed that some of the people who are excluded from eligibility in this initial tranche of contracts have done nothing for Iraq, have not pledged any money or anything in Madrid, for instance. So, as I say, it's a controversy, but I think it's one that's perfectly explicable.
MS. FAKHRY: If we turn now to the security situation on the ground in Iraq, Mr. Armitage, eight months have now elapsed since the fall of the Saddam regime, and the situation on the ground is still very precarious. How long will it take you to ensure that the security is at a much better level than it is today?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Our commanders tell us that the level today is better than it was, say, a month, a month and a half ago, but it's still at an unacceptably high level. I can't predict to you when it will stop or when it will cease, but I can predict to you that we're going to stay until it does.
MS. FAKHRY: And how much does the mass resignation yesterday from a unit within the new Iraqi Army, how much does it constitute a blow to your efforts to rebuild Iraq and rebuild its institutions?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, it's not a comfort at all. There's no secret to the fact that those who want to blight the future of the Iraqi nation have started targeting Iraqis who are themselves working for the betterment of the entire country. And I think intimidation and things of that nature do work in some cases. We have to develop enough momentum and enough traction, if you will, to make sure that those who want the nation to survive and to thrive largely outnumber those who don't. And we're working on it, so we'll get there.
MS. FAKHRY: There's so much to be done. In your assessment, what has been your main achievement so far in Iraq?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I think the fact that no one in Iraq has to fear the midnight knock on the door of Saddam Hussein's Mukhabarat. That's a signal achievement. No one in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait has to be fearful that their country is going to be invaded. That has to be the largest achievement.
But beyond that, I think it is noteworthy that we haven't had communal violence, that there are great numbers of Iraqis who say their life is better now and are optimistic about the future. And that's also, I think, significant.
MS. FAKHRY: You point out that there is significant, favorable developments on the ground, but there are also concerns being raised today by the ongoing U.S. occupation of Iraq that Iraq could end up falling into some sort of sectarianism, that the country could end up being divided along sectarian lines.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: We are very aware of that and we are working assiduously to see that that does not happen. Iraqis themselves, in the person of the Iraqi Governing Council, are trying to see their way clear to finally have a nation which will not and cannot descend into sectarian violence.
You correctly point out that this is a danger, it's one that has been avoided so far, and that all of us who are interested in Iraq have to work assiduously to prevent. And in this regard, it seems to me that many of our Arab friends and organizations, such as the OIC and things of that nature, have to make it very clear to all Iraqis that the best future is one in which they have a nation for all Iraqis, and not one that dissolves into three different areas.
MS. FAKHRY: But let me point out this, the fact that your actions have so far alienated a good number of the Sunnis, the Sunni leadership in the country, who feel marginalized in the new Iraqi system, particularly in the so-called "Sunni Triangle." How do you feel about that?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I feel that it is a concern. The Sunnis, for not just 35 years, but I think one could say for three or four hundred years, have held the dominant position in Iraq, and all of a sudden, in the space of a month, they find themselves in an inferior position. So this has to be very destabilizing for them.
Our job and the coalition's job is to reach out to Sunni tribal leaders, make it very clear, in word and deed, that they do have a future in the political system of the new Iraq, that they do have a future in the economic vitality of the new Iraq, and that minority rights will be protected by the fundamental law and the new constitution. This is a very time-consuming and arduous process, but it is a most worthy one.
MS. FAKHRY: Turning now to the Shiites in Iraq, Mr. Armitage, your plan for a transfer of power by sometime in June has been met with much resistance by some prominent Shiite leaders.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, the plan, as a general matter, I think, has been accepted. What seems to be a source of controversy is the manner in which people are chosen for the transitional assembly, whether to do it by caucuses, by appointment or by direct vote. And there are many voices who want to have this done by direct vote, but they also recognize that between now and June 30th, to find a proper and fair way to register people for that vote will be a very difficult process.
So there's a negotiation going on, an exchange of views, and we'll find our way through it.
MS. FAKHRY: How realistic is it that this deadline will be met in June for the transfer of power?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, it's very ambitious, let me say that, and we have every intent, after having announced this publicly, to have this transition. So our job is to work as rigorously as possible to achieve that end.
MS. FAKHRY: And might not a swift transfer of power lead to a regime in Iraq that may not be sympathetic to U.S. interests? Does that raise any concerns to you?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, any regime anywhere in the world that is not sympathetic to our interests is a concern, but I don't think it's reasonable to say that you want a democratic process in Iraq and then not accept whatever result of the democratic process or to accept the result that the democratic process brings forward. So we will accept whatever comes forward in Iraq and we'll deal accordingly.
MS. FAKHRY: Finally, Mr. Armitage, are you optimistic of the way things have been progressing so far in Iraq?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: You know, whenever --
MS. FAKHRY: When you think about the future of the country?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I think I'm optimistic in one way and I'm realistic in another. I'm optimistic in that, as I mentioned before, we don't have to fear Saddam Hussein's thugs and midnight knocks on the doors, et cetera. And I've seen the potential, the energy level of Iraqis, and that gives one, I think, a great deal of optimism. But I'm realistic in that I realize the length of the journey that we all have to come, mostly Iraqis, and the difficulties which we will encounter. So I wouldn't put myself as a pessimistic; I'm a realist.
MS. FAKHRY: Mr. Armitage, thank you very much for joining us.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you, Ms. Fakhry.
2003/1254
[End]
(end transcript)
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