14 March 2002
White House Report: Nuclear Policy, Libya, Afghanistan, Colombia
(White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer briefed) (820)
BUSH ADMINISTRATION NUCLEAR POLICY NOT NEW, FLEISCHER SAYS
The Bush administration's nuclear policy, "is not a new policy. In
fact, the most new element" in the January 2002 nuclear posture review
is President Bush's follow-through on his campaign promise to
unilaterally lower the level of offensive nuclear weapons, White House
Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said in response to a reporter's
question.
The Bush administration's nuclear policy is consistent with the policy
of previous U.S. administrations, Fleischer said.
To prove this, he read statements by former secretaries of defense
William Perry and William Cohen.
In 1996 Perry said: "We continue to maintain a nuclear deterrent
absolutely devastating in its destructive power. Anyone who considered
using a weapon of mass destruction against the United States or its
allies must first consider the consequences. We would not specify in
advance what our response would be, but it would be both overwhelming
and devastating."
In January, 2000, Cohen said: "We must maintain nuclear forces
sufficient to deter any potential adversary from using or threatening
to use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against the United
States or its allies and as a hedge against defeat of U.S.
conventional forces in defense of vital interests."
The point President Bush was making yesterday (at his news conference)
is that "to keep the peace, it's important to have deterrence, and
that is the ongoing context in which previous administrations have
discussed nuclear posture review," Fleischer said.
Asked if the most recent nuclear posture review gives the president
new options, particularly in regard to dealing with non-state actors,
Fleischer said: "It maintains all options. And that's been the
position of the government for quite a period of time."
Asked if the Bush administration was saying there's absolutely no
change in policy between this administration and the Clinton
administration when it comes to the use of nuclear arms, Fleischer
responded: "It's a consistent policy as I read those two previous
statements."
U.S. WELCOMES UPHOLDING OF CONVICTION OF LIBYAN FOR BOMBING OF PAN-AM
103
White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said "the United States
government welcomes the decision of the Scottish High Court of
Justiciary sitting in the Netherlands to uphold the conviction of
Abdel Al-Megrahi" for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 that crashed
over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, killing 270 people.
"This decision affirming the conviction of a Libyan agent for the
bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 represents a vindication of efforts by
successive United States administrations. It also underlines the
unshakable determination of the United States not to forget, but to
hold terrorists accountable for their acts."
Fleischer said the government of Libya should now move quickly to
satisfy its remaining obligations under UN Security Council
resolutions related to the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
The government of Libya, he said, needs "to pay all appropriate
compensation to the families. They are in discussions with the lawyers
for the families. That's the appropriate mechanism for the
determination of the level of payment to be arrived at. They have to
acknowledge responsibility in this matter, and to pay the reparations
as negotiated. Those are the obligations that they have to fulfill
under the United Nations Security Council resolutions."
U.S. OPPOSES LETTING AL QUAEDA MEMBERS GO FREE IF THEY SURRENDER
Asked about reports coming from Afghanistan that some of the Afghan
leadership is willing to make deals with the al Qaeda and the Taliban,
and if they surrender, will let them go free, Fleischer said letting
terrorists go free is not something the United States supports.
The purpose of the allied mission in Afghanistan "is to destroy al
Qaeda so they cannot regroup," Fleischer said. "So the president's
point, which is something that DOD carries out every day, is to create
an environment in which they cannot regroup, and that means the notion
of letting people go free is not something the United States supports.
And it's a fluid situation on the ground in Afghanistan. That's a
message that is conveyed, and we continue to work with our friends in
Afghanistan to achieve that objective."
BUSH ADMINISTRATION SEEKS NEW LEGAL AUTHORITIES FOR U.S. ASSISTANCE TO
COLOMBIA
In response to a question, Fleischer said the Bush administration is
seeking "new and more explicit legal authorities for State and DOD
assistance to Colombia to support the government of Colombia in its
unified campaign against narcotic trafficking, terrorist activities
and other threats to its national security."
"We have made that determination," he said. "We're going to continue
to observe all the requirements of current law as we work with the
Congress to try to figure out the appropriate way to bring more help
to the government of Colombia."
(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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