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Daily Press Briefing
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
January 8, 2003

INDEX:

(...)

QUESTION: Well, we have a five-page -- one of the several interviews the Secretary did today. One is with -- well, actually he did this one yesterday, but we just got it today, Public Radio International.

MR. BOUCHER: Because we respect the rights of news organizations to broadcast their interviews before we release them, as we do with the Associated Press and others.

QUESTION: I don't understand what you're saying, but I just said we --

MR. BOUCHER: I know you don't. That's not new.

QUESTION: Well, I respect your rights too, or whatever you said.

But the point is, I have a question about -- we don't -- you know, if you had a news conference it would help. But in it, he speaks really about Iraq --

MR. BOUCHER: Have we got a question in here somewhere?

QUESTION: We're not looking for a war. We're trying to avoid a war. You know, it's our -- again, you know, the preference is a peaceful resolution. "We're trying to solve a problem." It brings to mind that's pretty much what you've been telling North Korea.

Is it possible that the US is interested in a dialogue with Iraq to avoid war, as it's interested in dialogue with North Korea?

MR. BOUCHER: Barry, first of all, this is the second time you've been critical of our saying we want to resolve these issues peacefully.

QUESTION: I'm not being critical. He says it here. Would you like to hear the quote?

MR. BOUCHER: Barry --

QUESTION: "We're not trying to go to war. We're trying to solve a problem."

MR. BOUCHER: I thought I was the one that was supposed to stand here and read the Secretary's transcripts.

QUESTION: No, but you're distorting what I say. You're slighting -- you're -- you know, you're not representing what I'm asking. His quote is: "We're not trying to go to war. We're trying to solve a problem." I'm asking if he is looking for a dialogue as a way to solve a problem.

MR. BOUCHER: We have made very clear in the Secretary's words and our own that the United States wants to solve these situations peacefully. It should come as no surprise for you. I don't think I've ever stood up here and said that there was a particular situation in the world that we hoped to solve violently.

QUESTION: I'm not surprised.

MR. BOUCHER: But nonetheless, I think you'll also remember from our abundant conversations at this podium and the times when you and others have talked to the Secretary that there are different approaches for different situations and that the pressures and the tools and the mechanisms that we're bringing to bear on the situation in North Korea are somewhat different from those that we're bringing to bear on Iraq -- because the history is different, the 12-year history of Iraq's defiance is different, the unique situation that the President has described in Iraq is different, the history of Iraq's use of weapons of mass destruction against its own people and its own neighbors is different -- and therefore, in order to solve these situations peacefully, we are bringing different means and tools and efforts to bear.

QUESTION: I didn't question the way you're going about it --

MR. BOUCHER: Suggesting dialogue with Iraq has not been part of the picture because over the years there have been a lot of dialogues with Iraq, none of which have led to anything. The issue for Iraq is to comply with the UN Security Council resolutions. That's been the international community. There are people who talk to Iraq and we have always -- we haven't -- we've always said that in any conversations what they really need to make clear to Iraq is that one way the other Iraq has to comply with the Security Council resolutions.

QUESTION: Okay.

QUESTION: I realize that this is going to draw groans, but once again there's been a report that you guys and now the Russians are looking into exile opportunities for Saddam. Is there anything new to say? Can you expand on what you've said in the past? I realize we've gone over this every day for the past week. But nothing new?

MR. BOUCHER: No, there's not really anything new to say. It's an option that we would all hope he would take advantage of. I think Secretary Rumsfeld said that again yesterday. It's a fact.

(...)

QUESTION: I'm wondering if you would like to speculate from this building as to why --

MR. BOUCHER: No.

QUESTION: -- as to why the Oil Minister in Iraq was replaced a couple of days ago and what do you think the import of the current government shuffle might be.

MR. BOUCHER: No, and I don't know.

QUESTION: On a related matter, OPEC is meeting at the week end to discuss the possible increase in output to compensate for the reduction in output in Venezuela. Do you -- does the United States have any views on whether an agreement to increase output would be a good thing?

MR. BOUCHER: We've seen a number of statements from members of OPEC about possibly increasing production and that would be a positive development. Obviously they're going to have to get together and decide, but we're also in touch with various countries involved.

QUESTION: Can you tell us what countries?

MR. BOUCHER: No, I think I'll stop at that.

QUESTION: OPEC members?

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah.

QUESTION: Yeah? And putting -- saying that you think it would be a positive thing if --

MR. BOUCHER: Our view is that it would be a positive development if a -- the various ideas that have been discussed of that production, if those were carried out, that would be positive. And we've made that view known.

(...)

QUESTION: I'd like to move to Turkey, stay in the region. Is the US still confident, based on meetings with Mr. Erdogan and meetings that were held in Ankara with Mr. Wolfowitz, that the Turkish Government is on board for possible military action in Iraq?

MR. BOUCHER: We've had a close and cooperative relationship with Turkey that continues. We've had a lot of good consultations recently. You'll remember the trip that Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz took, Under Secretary Grossman as well. Under Secretary Grossman out there with the Under Secretary of the Treasury Taylor, they were in Ankara at the end of December. And we continue to have travelers as well as constant discussions through our Ambassador and our Embassy out there.

Turkey is one of the friends and allies that we're consulting with over the threat that Iraq poses to the region and the need to bring Iraq into compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1441. I would say that we are engaged in preparations if it becomes impossible to achieve a peaceful outcome. We meet with Turkish authorities regularly to discuss military planning. We've received a good reception from them. We've received good cooperation with them. And they are working through some of the things that we've requested.

QUESTION: When you say we're engaged in preparations, do you mean preparations on the ground in Turkey, or are you talking more in terms --

MR. BOUCHER: I would say in general we are engaged in preparations for military action should that prove necessary, should it prove impossible to get peaceful resolution, and that we've been talking to the Turkish Government about that. They know and they support, as we do, every possible effort to achieve a peaceful outcome that meets UN Security Council requirements and -- but we all know that that may not prove possible.

QUESTION: There are some US military officials who are cooling their heels right now in Germany waiting to get permission from the Turkish Government to come in and make an assessment of the various military bases. Has the US asked directly the Turkish Government why these individuals are not -- haven't been --

MR. BOUCHER: I don't know about any particular group of individuals anywhere who may or may not have travel plans. But as I've said, we've been talking with the Turkish authorities about planning. We have, I think, received a good reception for our request, and we've been -- as I said, they've been working these things through their system.

That's about all I can say at this point. We have not gotten into any particular detail with any particular country about the kind of planning that we might want to do or might be doing.

QUESTION: Paul Wolfowitz and General Franks were in the building this morning --

QUESTION: Barry already did that.

MR. BOUCHER: Somebody sitting in that chair -- (laughter) -- a half hour ago tried to tell me what they were eating and whether they were in the cafeteria or not.

QUESTION: Can I go back to the OPEC thing for one second? Did you mean to suggest that the United States is calling up members of OPEC and lobbying them in favor of a significant increase, or just that you're calling them to see what their thoughts on the idea are?

MR. BOUCHER: We keep in touch with OPEC members. Obviously, oil is important to us all.

QUESTION: Yeah.

MR. BOUCHER: And we've seen discussion by OPEC members of increases in production, and when we're asked we say that would be a positive development.

QUESTION: Yeah, but you said that you were in touch with --

MR. BOUCHER: And we're in touch, yeah.

QUESTION: To tell them or are you -- to tell them that the United States believes that this would be a good thing and you should go ahead and do it? Or --

MR. BOUCHER: To make sure that they understand our views and that we understand theirs. I'd just leave it at that.

(...)

QUESTION: There's a report out there that says that a senior Saudi military official recently went to Baghdad to ask Saddam Hussein to leave quietly and take up exile in another country. Did the Saudis consult the US on this? Is this something that the US would encourage? I know you're encouraging it generally, but actively -- are you actively working with other governments to try to make this a reality?

MR. BOUCHER: I was asked about 15 minutes ago if I have anything new to say on that topic, and I said no. I don't have anything specific on what Saudis and Iraqis may or may not have met or discussed. But on the general topic, no, I think we've said our piece. Secretary Rumsfeld said it again yesterday.

(...)
[End]