14 March 2002

White House Report: Libya, Afghanistan, Nuclear Policy, Colombia

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 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."

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."