02 October 2001

Defense Department Report: Rumsfeld Trip to Middle East, Central Asia

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld told reporters October 2 that he is about to begin a visit to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt and Uzbekistan.

"I have not been able to get to the region since I have become secretary of Defense this time, and given all the things that are going on over there, it struck me as a good idea to make a visit. I hope to get back this weekend," he said following talks at the Pentagon with India's Minister of External Affairs Jaswant Singh.

Asked why Uzbekistan is included on the trip, Rumsfeld said he had not met the leadership there, "and it seemed to me that given their geography and their situation, that having a first face-to-face meeting with the leadership there would be a useful thing."

Asked if he would also visit Pakistan on the trip, Rumsfeld said "No. I'll not be visiting Pakistan."

Asked to comment on the tasks of the global anti-terrorist coalition the administration is putting together, Rumsfeld said "This is not an effort that will be short. It is not an effort that involves a single coalition. There will be a variety of opportunities for countries to work with us in different ways at different times in different parts of the world, sometimes visibly and sometimes less visibly.

"As I've said before, I think that the kind of information that will turn the day will be scraps of information that people from all across the globe will give, sometimes people from inside countries that are harboring terrorists, sometimes conceivably people from inside organizations that would like terrorists to leave their country. And it's that kind of information that will help us over time, ultimately, to roll up these networks and allow free people to live their lives in freedom."

Rumsfeld also told reporters that he and India's foreign minister had "had a very good discussion about his part of the world and the problems that the United States and those nations that are concerned about terrorism are wrestling with."

Rumsfeld said he appreciated India's "spontaneous, open" support offered to the United States immediately after the September 11 attacks. It is something that is appreciated and valued and from which we are benefiting."

Foreign Minister Singh said "the free world has a challenge that we face, and the challenge we have to face jointly. And in the facing of this challenge, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States of America."