23 January 2003
The Opposite of Disarmament Is Occurring In Iraq, Official Says
(Bush committed to disarming Iraq one way or another) (600) Washington - A senior U.S. administration official says "the opposite of disarmament" is occurring in Iraq. For example, he told reporters at the State Department's Foreign Press Center January 23, the 12,000-page Iraqi declaration on weapons programs amounted to little more than "obfuscation and deception." He faulted the Iraqis for not providing explanations of gaps and inconsistencies in their December 12 declaration document. What happened to 1.5 tons of VX nerve gas, 8,000 liters of anthrax, and 30,000 chemical munitions, he asked. The official expressed disbelief that Iraq could lose weapons of mass destruction (WMD). WMD "is what this is about" he said on the same day that The New York Times published an article by National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice under the heading, "Why We Know Iraq Is Lying," Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz addressed the Council on Foreign Relations spelling out the administration's case against Iraq, and the White House released a document entitled, "What Does Disarmament Look Like?" (http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/disarmament/) The official -- who briefed the foreign press on condition that he not be identified -- asked why Iraq cannot approach the process of disarmament in the same cooperative manner as countries such as South Africa, Ukraine and Kazakhstan -- all of which have successfully implemented nuclear disarmament initiatives. Those nations demonstrated full cooperation and transparency, he said, whereas Iraq has shown a high-level political commitment "to defeat inspections," assembled organizations to thwart weapons inspections, and repeatedly carried out acts of concealment and deception. He said the Bush administration will continue to layout its case regarding Iraq, but emphasized the burden of proof remains with Iraq. The Iraqi regime -- at the highest level -- must make a strategic choice to implement the disarmament process proactively, the official told his audience, but said nothing like that is now happening. Arms inspections "don't work unless there is cooperation," he said, holding out the prospect that Iraq's political leadership could become "a cooperative partner." Instead, U.N. weapons inspectors have been labeled as "spies" by the totalitarian government in Baghdad. In such a political environment who would want to talk with "spies," he asked. The official indicated that it is understandable that the public wants to be fully informed about how the U.S. drew its conclusions about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, especially since it could become an issue leading to war. The official indicated that the United States has provided some specific information to U.N. weapons inspectors to facilitate their efforts and indicated that additional information could be forthcoming. But he also pointed out that some individuals are predisposed to dismiss or discount any evidence that is uncovered in Iraq. He pointed to empty warheads that inspectors found recently as an example. The official said the Iraqi warheads could be used to disperse chemical weapons, but doubters note that they were empty, or, there were so few: only 12. But he said the warheads had been carefully preserved, were in excellent condition, ready for use, and absent from Iraq's declaration. The official also raised questions that Iraq has failed to address. Why does Iraq require, for example, mobile laboratories? Why has Iraq sought to infiltrate the arms inspection process? Why are key documents moved from business settings to personal residences? Why do the Iraqis need to place official "minders" near potential witnesses whenever the inspectors seek critical information? To date, he said, "real cooperation" between Iraq and the inspectors has not occurred. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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