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27 January 2003

Powell Says Time Running Out for Iraq to Disarm Peacefully

(Comments on U.N. weapons inspectors' report to Security Council) (3550)
Secretary of State Colin Powell said Iraq's time for choosing peaceful
disarmament is quickly coming to an end.
Commenting on the report of the U.N. weapons inspectors submitted to
the Security Council January 27, Powell accused Iraq of continuing to
conceal its weapons programs.
"Iraq continues to defy the will of the United Nations. The Iraqi
regime has responded to [Security Council resolution] 1441 with empty
claims, empty declarations and empty gestures," he said.
"Where are the chemical and biological munitions? Where are the mobile
biological laboratories? If the Iraqi regime was truly committed to
disarmament, we wouldn't be looking for these mobile labs. They'd
drive them up and park them in front of UNMOVIC headquarters for
inspection," he said.
The secretary said the United States will soon divulge information
about links between Iraq and al-Qaeda terrorists.
Commenting about the disagreements among members of the Security
Council about the advisability of using military action to disarm
Iraq, Powell said the Bush administration will consult with foreign
leaders in the days ahead to try to reach a collective decision as to
the next steps to take.
In the event that the United Nations decides not to use force to
disarm Iraq, Powell said the United States reserves the right to do so
alongside "likeminded nations who might wish to be part of such a
coalition."
Following is the transcript of Powell's press conference:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 27, 2003
REMARKS
Secretary Of State Colin L. Powell
January 27, 2003
Washington, D.C.
(3:00 p.m. EST)
SECRETARY POWELL: Well, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Earlier
today, in accordance with UN Resolution 1441, Doctors' Blix and El
Baradei provided the United Nations Security Council their 60-day
reports on inspection activity in Iraq.
We listened carefully as the inspectors reported that Iraq has not
provided the active, immediate and unconditional cooperation that the
Council demanded in UN Resolution 1441.
As Dr. Blix said, "Iraq appears not to have come to a genuine
acceptance, not even today, of the disarmament that was demanded of
it." Let me repeat, because this is the essence of the problem. Dr.
Blix said, "Iraq appears not to have come to a genuine acceptance, not
even today, of the disarmament that was demanded of it." 1441 is all
about the disarmament demanded of Iraq.
The inspectors' findings came as no surprise. For 11 years before
1441, Saddam Hussein's regime refused to make the strategic decision,
the political decision, to disarm itself of weapons of mass
destruction and to comply with the world's demands.
To this day, the Iraq regime continues to defy the will of the United
Nations. The Iraqi regime has responded to 1441 with empty claims,
empty declarations and empty gestures.
It has not given the inspectors and the international community any
concrete information in answer to a host of key questions: Where is
the missing anthrax? This is not just a question of historical
curiosity. It is essential for us to know what happened with this
deadly material.
Where is the VX? Also not just a trivial question. We must know what
happened to this deadly material.
Where are the chemical and biological munitions? Where are the mobile
biological laboratories? If the Iraqi regime was truly committed to
disarmament, we wouldn't be looking for these mobile labs. They'd
drive them up and park them in front of UNMOVIC headquarters for
inspection.
Why is Iraq violating the restrictions on ballistic missiles? Why is
it violating the ban on missiles with a range of more than 150
kilometers? Where are the credible, verifiable answers to all of the
other disarmament questions compiled by the previous inspectors?
Today, we heard that the inspectors have not been able to interview
any Iraqi in private. We heard that the inspectors have not been
allowed to employ aerial surveillance. Why not? If Iraq was committed
to disarmament, if Iraq understood what 1441 was all about, they would
willingly allow this kind of surveillance, they would willingly allow
people to be interviewed without minders, without fear of retribution.
We have heard that the inspectors have still not received, a full list
of Iraqi personnel involved with weapons of mass destruction. If Iraq
no longer has weapons of mass destruction, they should willingly give
the names of all who were involved in their previous programs to the
inspectors for examination and interview.
The inspectors told us that their efforts have been impeded by a swarm
of Iraqi minders. Why, if Iraq was committed to disarmament, would
they be going to these efforts to deceive and to keep the inspectors
from doing their work? Passive cooperation is not what was called for
in 1441.
The inspectors have also told us that they have evidence that Iraq has
moved or hidden items at sites just prior to inspection visits. That's
what the inspectors say, not what Americans say, not what American
intelligence says, but we certainly corroborate all of that. But this
is information from the inspectors.
And the inspectors have caught the Iraqis concealing "top secret"
information in a private residence. You all saw the pictures of that
information being brought out. Why? Why, if Iraq was committed to
disarmament, as required under 1441, would we be finding this kind of
information squirreled away in private homes, for any other reason
than to keep it away from the inspectors?
The list of unanswered questions and the many ways Iraq is frustrating
the work of the inspectors goes on and on. Iraq's refusal to disarm,
in compliance with Resolution 1441, still threatens international
peace and security. And Iraq's defiance continues to challenge the
relevance and credibility of the Security Council.
The international community's goal was, is and remains Iraq's
disarmament. The Security Council and the international community must
stand behind Resolution 1441. Iraq continues to conceal quantities,
vast quantities, of highly lethal material and weapons to delivery it.
They could kill thousands upon thousands of men, women and children if
Saddam Hussein decides to use these against those men, women and
children, or, just as frightening, to provide them to others who might
use such weapons.
Iraq must not be allowed to keep weapons of mass terror and the
capacity to produce more. The world community must send a clear
message to Iraq that the will of the international community must be
obeyed.
Last September, the United Nations acted at the request of the United
States. We acted through 1441 with the hope -- the President had the
hope, the other members of the Security Council who voted unanimously
for this resolution had the hope -- that Iraq would take this one last
chance presented to it by the international community to disarm
peacefully.
And remember the key elements of that resolution. Iraq has been and
continues to be in material breach of all of its earlier obligations.
We are giving, the resolution said, one more chance to Iraq. We put a
firm list of conditions for Iraq to meet and what they should allow
the inspectors to do to assist them in that disarmament. And let's not
forget a vital part of the resolution that comes toward the end: there
would be serious consequences for continued Iraqi violation of its
obligation. Those serious consequences are the lever that was needed
to get the inspectors in to get the inspectors to be able to do their
work, which was to assist Iraqi in disarmament.
Iraqi intransigence brings us to a situation where we see that regime
continuing to confront the fundamental choice between compliance with
1441 and the consequences of its failure to disarm.
Even at this late date, the United States hopes for a peaceful
solution. But a peaceful solution is possible only if Iraq disarms
itself with the help of the inspectors. The issue is not how much more
time the inspectors need to search in the dark. It is how much more
time Iraq should be given to turn on the light and to come clean. And
the answer is not much more time. Iraq's time for choosing peaceful
disarmament is fast coming to an end.
Thank you, and I am prepared for your questions.
Yes, sir.
QUESTION: It's my understanding that although you guys believe --
well, are convinced that Iraq is neither cooperating nor complying
with the resolution, you're not yet prepared to go to the Security
Council with the serious consequences part. Is that correct? And if it
is, can you explain why there are --
SECRETARY POWELL: Our plan is straightforward. We passed 1441 with a
unanimous vote in the Security Council. Fifteen nations acted. Now
that we have received this report from the two chief inspectors, I
think it is important for us to ask questions of the inspectors. That
is happening this afternoon in New York and it will also happen on
Wednesday as members of the Security Council pose questions to Dr.
Blix and to Dr. El Baradei. The President will be in touch with fellow
heads of state and government about this matter. I will be in touch
with my colleagues in the Security Council.
And after these consultations are completed, and you know Prime
Minister Blair is coming on Friday, Mr. Berlusconi is coming this week
as well to see President Bush, and after we have had these
consultations and considered the entire situation, and have a little
time pass, Security Council members need time to consult with their
capitals on what they have heard and seen today, and when those
consultations are through and the President has had a chance to
discuss this with his fellow heads of state and government and I've
done my consultations, we will determine what the next steps are.
Barry, did you have one?  Excuse me.  
QUESTION: I thought you sort of laid it out pretty clearly, but I
wondered, does this report -- which I'm sure you anticipated -- does
this move the administration closer to a showdown with Iraq? And if
you care to, and I'd understand if you chose not to, have you got a
response to the Iraqi Foreign Minister who doesn't think you tell the
truth?
SECRETARY POWELL: With respect to the first part of your question,
time is running out. We've made it clear from the very beginning that
we could not allow the process of inspections to string us out
forever. There are some who would like to take months. Dr. El Baradei
made a reference today that he needed a few more months.
But make careful note of the context in which he was making that
observation; and that is, if there was active cooperation on the part
of the Iraqis. If there isn't that kind of active cooperation, you can
be sitting on the things you know and looking at the things you know
about, but there may be many other things that you don't know about
that you are unable to get information on.
And so inspections only work in the presence of cooperation, active
cooperation, and a willingness on the part of the other side to
participate in the disarmament. And we have examples of this, in South
Korea and Kazakhstan, Ukraine and other nations that have gone down
this road.
With respect to the Iraqi Foreign Minister calling me a liar, this
will not cause me any distress or loss of sleep.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, you have spoken, in Davos most recently,
about a connection between Iraq and terrorist groups, including
al-Qaida. Are you saying there is evidence that that has happened in
the past, or is there evidence currently that there's still a
connection?
SECRETARY POWELL: I think we have said consistently all along, through
last fall and into this year, that we have seen contacts and
connections between the Iraqi regime and terrorist organizations, to
include al-Qaida. As we have been able to focus on this more and look
back in time, I think we're more confident of that assessment and we
see no reason not to believe that such contacts and the presence of
al-Qaida elements or individuals in Iraq is a reasonable assumption,
and we have some basis for that assumption. And the information that
we can divulge in greater detail, we will be divulging in the days
ahead.
Yes, Betsy.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can you say whether you are willing, whether
the U.S. is willing to give the inspectors a couple of more weeks,
maybe a month, but no more than that, in order to complete their work?
SECRETARY POWELL: We are going to do exactly what I described earlier:
consult with leaders around the world. President Bush has been on the
phone this morning with President Aznar. He'll be on the phone and
he'll be meeting with others. I'll be doing likewise. And when all
these consultations are finished, we will let it be known what our
next steps are going to be.
Yes, sir.
QUESTION: I have a two-part question for you, sir. Up until a week ago
yesterday, you were a strong advocate for a diplomatic solution to the
Iraqi situation.
SECRETARY POWELL:  I still am.  
QUESTION: In fact, to the point where many of my brethren even labeled
you a dove.
SECRETARY POWELL:  I've been labeled many things over the years.
QUESTION: But as of the talk shows a week ago yesterday, last Sunday,
you started talking tough, and you've been talking very tough ever
since, in Switzerland and again today.
Now, one, what changed your mind? And then I have a follow-up
question, if I may.
SECRETARY POWELL: It has been clear from the very beginning -- you
know, I am one of the principal authors of 1441, and for better or
worse, I can take some credit for having been one of its champions as
we drove it through the United Nations Security Council process for a
period of seven and a half weeks.
And we always insisted on three elements to that: one, Iraq is in
material breach; two, this is their last chance; there have to be
serious consequences. And those serious consequences meant the use of
force. And you've heard me say that repeatedly, repeatedly. And I've
also said that if the international community through the UN, when the
time comes, does not wish to use force, the United States reserves its
right as a sovereign nation to make a judgment within this clear
record of violation to use force alongside likeminded nations who
might wish to be part of such a coalition.
So I have been consistent throughout this entire process. And as I've
watched the process unfold, I have watched Iraq go by every exit ramp
-- diplomatic exit ramp -- that was put there for them. They could
have made a full, complete and accurate declaration in December, which
would have given us some confidence that they were serious about
disarmament. Instead, they gave us 12,200 pages of nothing very
useful.
The inspectors said that today. There was nothing new. They added
nothing to the body of knowledge. They tried to deceive the
inspectors. They tried to deceive us. One ramp gone by.
We have watched subsequently as they have kept reconnaissance planes
from doing the work that could be helpful to the inspectors. They have
done all of the things that I have described and you have heard other
of my colleagues describe -- Deputy Secretary Armitage, Deputy
Secretary Wolfowitz, last week. And so we are getting closer and
closer to the point where the Security Council is going to have to
look at the options that it had anticipated it would have to look at
when 1441 was originally passed.
And so hang any label you want on me. I am a great believer in
diplomacy and a great believer in finding a peaceful solution. But I
also recognize that when somebody will not accept a peaceful solution
by doing their part of creating a peaceful solution, one must never
rule out the use of force to implement the will of the international
community, but more importantly, to protect our people and to protect
the world.
QUESTION:  Can I do a follow-up, please?
SECRETARY POWELL: If -- there are quite a few people here. Yes. Thank
you.
QUESTION: Whether it's a few weeks or it's a month, what do you think
of the idea of one final deadline? One final exit ramp for Iraq to
answer the questions that you laid out at the start?
SECRETARY POWELL: Iraq could answer this this afternoon, if it chose
to. Rather, the Iraqi Foreign Minister spent his time calling me a
liar.
I will stick with what I said earlier. We will have our discussions
and consultations this week and then we will announce next steps at an
appropriate time.
Yes, sir.
QUESTION: Regarding the Wednesday debate at the Security Council, what
are the objectives of your delegation going to be going into the
debate?
SECRETARY POWELL: It's a consultation, really, and it began, to some
extent, this afternoon. But our delegation, Ambassador Negroponte, and
I think, the other delegations, will be putting questions to the
inspectors. We have a number of issues that we want to raise with the
inspectors that perhaps might indicate areas they want to look in and
give us answers to questions we have about the work they've done so
far.
That is really the purpose of these consultations. These consultations
this week are not for the purpose of determining what the next steps
should be, I think. We'll need more work and heads of state and
government talking to one another and foreign ministers talking to
each other before one would make a judgment as to what those next
steps should be. So I think this is an opportunity for the 15 members
of the Council to learn more about what the inspectors have found out.
Keep in mind there are new members on the Council. Not -- there's been
some changeover since 1441 was passed, and it gives these new elected
members an opportunity to learn more about the process, about the
spirit and intent of 1441, and to ask questions of Dr. Blix and Dr. El
Baradei.
A last one.  Terri.
QUESTION: Thanks. The Germans are calling -- as president next month,
they're calling for another report on February 14th. Do you think this
is just a waste of time? Do you think it's another delaying tactic by
the Germans, by the French, to say that they're not ready to make such
a decision?
SECRETARY POWELL: No, I wouldn't characterize it that way. It was
always part of the process that Dr. Blix and Dr. El Baradei report on
a regular basis to the Council. They reported in early December. They
were there not too long ago. The 27th of January was the first report
really required directly by 1441, and I think it's quite appropriate
for the new president of the Council, Germany, that takes over on the
1st of February, to call for reports as the presidency or other
members of the Council see fit.
But what we can't do is just keep kicking the can down the road in the
absence of a change in policy and attitude and go from passive to more
than active cooperation, not cooperation alone, but a demonstrated
willingness on the part of Iraq to participate in the disarmament and
not try to frustrate the disarmament effort.
Okay?
QUESTION:  Thank you, sir.
SECRETARY POWELL:  Well, I have to do one more.  Elise.  
QUESTION:  I'm going to defer to my colleague.
SECRETARY POWELL:  You yield your time?  
QUESTION:  Well, you had to call on one of us.  
(Laughter.)
SECRETARY POWELL:  Andrea.  
QUESTION: Secretary Powell, as impassioned as you are and as adamant
as you are that you see in 14 -- in the inspectors' reports examples
of Iraq noncompliance, many of your colleagues on the Security Council
feel equally as strong that there are cases of compliance. The French,
the Germans, the Russians have all come out today saying that they
think the inspectors should be given more time.
How are you and the President planning to convince your colleagues and
dissuade them -- persuade them to --
SECRETARY POWELL: What we're going to do is consult with our
colleagues, and I'm sure that the President will be talking to leaders
of all these countries, and I'll be talking to the ministers. We will
consult, just as we did when 1441 was put together in the first
instance, and try to come to a collective judgment as to what should
be the next steps.
And as I'll say for about the fifth time, in due course those next
steps will be announced. Yes, there are disagreements. There are some
who are satisfied with passive cooperation at this point. Passive
cooperation is not what 1441 was all about.
Dr. Blix, it seems to me, made it rather clear today that he is not
getting the kind of cooperation and Iraq has not made the fundamental
choice it has to make that it is going to be disarmed.
Thank you.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)