21 April 2003
Rumsfeld Says U.S. Not Seeking Permanent Military Bases in Iraq
(Efforts under way to locate WMD, debrief Iraqis with knowledge of them) (750) By Jacquelyn S. Porth Washington File Security Affairs Writer Washington -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld dismissed as "inaccurate and unfortunate" any suggestion that the United States seeks a permanent military presence in Iraq, noting that there has been "zero discussion" on that among senior Bush administration officials. "I have never heard the subject of a permanent base in Iraq discussed," the secretary said, in response to a question from a reporter at an April 21 Pentagon press briefing. The question was prompted by an April 20 New York Times article quoting unnamed senior Bush administration officials suggesting that the U.S. would like to have access to as many as four key Iraq bases throughout the country. The bases that are currently being used by U.S. forces in Baghdad and elsewhere are facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and providing stability in a time of transition, according to Rumsfeld. The likelihood of Iraq granting the United States permanent rights to its bases "seems to me to be so low," the secretary said, "it doesn't surprise me that it wasn't discussed in my presence." He pointed out that there are already many opportunities to locate U.S. forces in and around the region, making any new basing arrangement unnecessary. "We have plenty of friends and ...ability to work with them and have locations for things that help to contribute to stability in the region," he said. The New York Times article indicated that the U.S. military will minimize the size of its presence in countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq and would probably not announce the stationing of troops there permanently. The Times also quoted unidentified U.S. officials as saying permanent access rather than permanent basing is all that the U.S. military requires. Asked how long he expects the U.S. military to be in Iraq, Rumsfeld said no one really knows. He said, however, that it depends on how rapidly an interim Iraqi government evolves and how successful external influences might be in destabilizing the country. He emphasized that "we have no desire to be there for long periods, we simply don't." Rumsfeld said the existence of a friendly Iraq that does not threaten its neighbors is actually a reason to have fewer U.S. military forces in the region. He also noted that some military forces associated with the U.S. Central Command are transiting out of the Middle East. The United States never planned to deal with Iraqi stabilization in isolation, Rumsfeld said. And, he talked about a large and growing list of countries that are doing "a good job" to help Iraq transition from conflict to stability. There are some 20 countries that are providing important humanitarian assistance and stabilizing functions in Iraq or in the theater of operations, Rumsfeld said, including Jordan (field hospital), Italy (300 security officers), Spain (medical unit), Albania (stability forces), the Czech Republic (field hospital), Lithuania (medical support and cargo handlers), and Saudi Arabia (field hospital). Rumsfeld and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers were asked about the hunt for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The secretary repeated an earlier observation he had made that search teams are unlikely "to stumble over anything" in Iraq. Myers said debriefings are ongoing with Iraqis who have surrendered or were captured recently about their inside knowledge of Iraq's weapons programs. Rumsfeld noted that there is a group of interagency representatives working together on this subject in Iraq -- from the FBI, CIA, and the Defense Intelligence Agency. He said they are "finding all kinds of information" by examining documents and conducting interrogations. Myers said operations to discover WMD are under way in various ways and at various locations. Rumsfeld said it takes time to question individuals after they are arrested, to translate relevant documents, and to crosscheck information. The teams who are pursuing information about WMD "are proceeding in an orderly, disciplined way," he added. Both officials were also questioned about the military's use of cluster bombs in Iraq. Myers said cluster munitions are designed to explode when they hit the ground after they are air dropped. Asked about reports of cluster bombs harming civilians in residential areas, Myers said: "We'll have to find out whose they are." He answered affirmatively when asked if he thought cluster munitions were less dangerous to civilians than anti-personnel landmines. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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