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22 April 2003

U.S. Seeks Chances to Work with Allies to Help Iraqis, Boucher Says

(State spokesman responds to criticism of department from Gingrich)
(550)
By Jane Morse
Washington File Staff Writer
The United States is interested in working with its allies to improve
the lives of Iraqis, says Richard Boucher, the State Department
spokesman.
During the April 22 daily press briefing, Boucher was asked by
reporters if the United States would "punish" those countries that
opposed the U.S. stance on the need for military action to remove the
regime of Iraq's Saddam Hussein.
"We have made clear," Boucher replied, "that there are opportunities
to work with allies in the reconstruction of Iraq, in bringing a
better life for the Iraqi people." He said there are opportunities to
work with allies on other issues, but acknowledged that "recent
events, disagreements will have an effect on our views and our
relationships."
When asked about the possibility of organizing a donors' conference
for Iraq, Boucher said it was too soon for such an undertaking.
The State Department, the departments of Defense and Treasury, he
said, "have been working closely together with other donors to try to
organize the international effort, not only the humanitarian effort,
but also the reconstruction effort over the longer term." He noted
that there were many discussions about aid for Iraq at the
International Monetary Fund/World Bank spring meetings in Washington
April 12-13.
"We are actively and continuously coordinating with other potential
donors," the spokesman said. "There is general recognition that needs
assessment by the World Bank, possibly by the UNDP [United Nations
Development Program], could be a valuable part of the process of
organizing relief and reconstruction for the Iraqi people."
But that process may take weeks to months before a donors' conference
could be contemplated, he said.
Boucher was asked to respond to criticism of the State Department from
Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives who
is now a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a
Washington think tank.
In a speech delivered April 22 at AEI, Gingrich said the State
Department, in the lead-up to the Iraq war, "remained ineffective and
incoherent." He also accused the State Department of obstructing
President Bush's policy goals.
"The State Department is here to carry out the President's policy,"
Boucher said. "We're doing that effectively. We're doing that loyally,
and we're doing that diligently, and we're doing that with a fair
amount of creativity and accomplishment."
As for the State Department's relationship with Congress, Boucher said
that Secretary Colin Powell "appears at more congressional hearings
... than any previous Secretary of State. ... So, there's no lack of
congressional oversight; there's no lack of coordination with the
Congress."
Boucher was asked if press reports saying that the State Department
was at odds with the White House and Defense Department would hurt
U.S. efforts abroad.
"People will judge us by what we do," Boucher replied. "People will
judge us by whether we bring a better life for the people of Iraq. ...
People will judge us by whether we work with our allies on issues
around the world. ... I think we're fairly confident that the facts of
the president's policy will speak louder than the debates inside the
beltway or the think tanks of Washington."
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)