Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=2/25/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=RICE / IRAQ (L)

NUMBER=2-300043

BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The White House says a French plan to extend U-N weapons inspections in Iraq would only help Saddam Hussein avoid real disarmament. V-O-A's Scott Stearns has the story.

TEXT: White House National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice says the French, German and Russian plan to continue inspections would help the Iraqi leader further divide the Security Council and hide illegal weapons.

/// RICE ACT ///

Offering more time at this point really only plays into Saddam's hands.

/// END ACT ///

In an interview with V-O-A, Ms. Rice said she is not questioning the motives of the countries backing more inspections but believes their plan would help the Iraqi leader continue to defy more than a decade of U-N resolutions demanding that he disarm.

/// SECOND RICE ACT ///

To say that there needs to be more time now or more inspections is simply going to get us back into the same kind of game that we have been in with Saddam Hussein for that twelve years. He has successfully held off disarmament. He has successfully split the council.

/// END ACT ///

Ms. Rice says the Security Council should not allow itself to be split over Iraq and should instead come together behind a new U-S, British and Spanish-backed resolution declaring Iraq in violation of U-N demands and warning of serious consequences if it fails to comply.

/// THIRD RICE ACT ///

It's extremely important that the world stand with one voice, [and] say to Saddam Hussein, "You were given a final opportunity to disarm and it is time to do that or to face the consequences.

/// END ACT ///

France and Germany say there is no need for a new U-N resolution and that the Security Council's priority should be disarming Iraq peacefully.

Iraq says it has no illegal weapons and believes President Bush is determined to attack the country regardless of what the Security Council decides.

Ms. Rice says the Bush Administration is always hopeful that Iraq will disarm, but, at this point, she says it is hard to imagine that Saddam Hussein will comply.

Instead, she expects the Iraqi leader will return to what she calls "game-playing" to keep the inspection process going and avoid giving up suspected stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons.

/// FOURTH RICE ACT ///

He'll start trying to show a little bit of cooperation, a little bit of progress. Perhaps he will bring out this weapon that he destroys or that weapon that he destroys, because now that he is under tremendous pressure, he has a lot of incentive to again get back into this game. But the world should not be fooled. We need total and complete disarmament.

/// END ACT ///

Chief U-N weapons inspector Hans Blix has given Iraq until Saturday to begin destroying missiles whose range exceeds U-N limits. He says Iraq has shown new signs of substantive cooperation in recent days, including documents concerning the disposal of some banned weapons in 1991. Mr. Blix described the new disclosures as "positive" and said they would have to be followed up further. (SIGNED)

NEB/SS/RH/FC