*EPF103 11/18/2002
Transcript: U.S. Hopes Force Will Not Be Needed in Iraq
(State's Armitage interviewed Nov 15 by four Arabic language media) (2740)
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said the United States hopes that U.N. weapons inspectors in Iraq will have full and complete access and cooperation from authorities in Baghdad, a situation in which "there would be no need for military force."
Armitage conveyed U.S. views on U.N attempts to eliminate weapons of mass destruction from Iraq in interviews with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, the Middle East Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Sawa and Abu Dhabi television November 15.
But Armitage said diplomacy that is not backed by the credible threat of force would be an empty gesture. He said the Bush administration does not need U.N. Security Council authorization to wage war on Iraq if President Bush deems that such a course of action is needed to protect the United States. The deputy secretary said the president is open to the idea of returning to the Security Council for consultations if Iraq is found to be in "material breach" of U.N. resolutions.
On the Middle East Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), the deputy secretary repeated that Iraqi disarmament remains the international community's top priority, but said the United States was also interested in other U.N. resolutions passed out of concern for the human rights of Iraqi citizens.
Armitage also suggested on MBC that the Security Council could end U.N. sanctions against Iraq if it completely disarmed and lived up to its responsibilities.
Asked about the different approaches between Iraq and Israel over possession of weapons of mass destruction, Armitage said that while the United States has "constant discussions" with Israel over the need "to not have to possess any extreme weapons," there is "an enormous difference" between Israel and Saddam Hussein's Iraq, which "has already used weapons of mass destruction against her own people and against the Iranians during their long war."
"[I]t is necessary to disarm Iraq before Iraq can again use weapons of mass destruction on her neighbors or she makes some liaison with terrorists who will use these weapons either against Iraq's neighbors or ourselves," said Armitage on Abu Dhabi TV.
The deputy secretary also praised Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad for making "a very enlightened decision" to support the most recent U.N. resolution on Iraq.
"As far as the impact of relations with the United States, it is, of course, seen as a positive gesture, and we appreciate it," he said on Radio Sawa.
Armitage also commented upon the student demonstrations in Iran in support of an academic sentenced to death for blasphemy by a court controlled by clergy, saying on Abu Dhabi TV that the students "appear to have some pretty strong views."
However, "what's important is not what I believe, nor, for that matter, what the United States believes. What's important is what the people of Iran believe," he said.
Commenting on a recently broadcast tape recording of what is alleged to be the voice of al-Qaida leader Usama bin Laden, Armitage said the tape and other information indicate that the United States and U.S. interests appear to be under heightened threat right now.
Following are transcripts of Deputy Secretary Armitage on the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation; the Middle East Broadcasting Corporation; Radio Sawa; and Abu Dhabi TV:
(begin transcript)
Interview on Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation
Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State
Washington, DC November 15, 2002
MS. KHOURY: Mr. Armitage, are there any specific information that has pushed the Federal Bureau of Investigation to warn against possible attacks that were described as major and tremendously huge that al-Qaida is planning to do inside the United States?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, we have a body of information which leads us to believe that the recent tape which alleges to be the voice of Usama bin Laden, combined with the amount of indications we're getting both here and abroad, that the United States and US interests are under a heightened threat right now.
MS. KHOURY: Then are you ready to increase the level, to increase the level of the state of alert inside the United States, in expectancy for probable attacks?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, those are matters that are being reviewed by the government -- I believe even at this minute, as I'm talking to you -- and a decision will be made whether to up the level or not, or perhaps to up the level in certain regions or not. But that discussion is being held even at this minute.
MS. KHOURY: Mr. Armitage, to move to the Iraqi subject, you are still pursuing your military plans despite the acceptance of the return of the inspectors by the Iraqis. Are you therefore betting on (inaudible) of the inspectors?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: No, we're not betting -- if I heard the question correctly, we're not betting on the failure of the inspectors. But we know that diplomacy which is not backed by the credible threat of force would be an empty gesture, particularly when dealing with Saddam Hussein. We hope the inspectors have full and complete access, and full and complete cooperation with the authorities in Baghdad; and in that case, then there would be no need for military force.
MS. KHOURY: If Iraq doesn't (inaudible) of the inspectors, will you then immediately strike against Iraq?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: We will hear what Mr. Blix and his inspection team find, we'll listen carefully to his report to the Security Council, and we'll make up our mind. I cannot speak to the time period or even if we'll do this. The President will have us in a position, if necessary, to defend our interests, but I don't think any good purpose is served by speaking about the immediacy of that event.
MS. KHOURY: Mr. Armitage, we would like to know why are you insisting on removing the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, if existent, whereas there is no mention of the Israeli weapons.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, first of all, I have to say that Iraq has already used weapons of mass destruction against her own people and against the Iranians during their long war, so we know that weapons of mass destruction are existent with the Iraqis.
On the question of Israel, we have constant discussions with our friends in Israel, as we do with the Palestinians, about the need to lower violence and to not have to posses any extreme weapons.
But beyond that, there is an enormous difference between a nation like Saddam Hussein, which has already used weapons of mass destruction against her own people and her neighbors, and a democratic country like Israel.
MS. DERGHAM: Mr. Armitage, thank you.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you very much.
(end transcript)
(begin transcript)
Interview on Middle East Broadcasting Corporation
Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State
Washington, DC November 15, 2002
QUESTION: (Unrecorded.)
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I don't know how far away we can say war with Iraq is. Certainly, we don't prefer war. And I think the vote of the United Nations Security Council 15-0 calling for Saddam Hussein to disarm was an attempt to actually have peace. But it entirely rests in Saddam Hussein's hands. The ball is entirely in his court now.
QUESTION: (Unrecorded.)
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, the United States has said that the disarmament of Iraq is the top priority, but we have also noted that there are many other United Nations Security Council resolutions which are on the books, including the necessity to respect the human rights of all the citizens of Iraq that we're very interested in.
QUESTION: (Unrecorded.)
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, clearly, we need to see what the UNMOVIC inspectors find, and Mr. Blix will be the one who reports to the Security Council his findings. Of course, any nation has the right to bring material breach allegations to the Council. But, in general, it'll be the inspectors.
QUESTION: (Unrecorded.)
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, if the Iraqis disarm totally and live up to their other responsibilities, of course there would be no need for sanctions. But I note that this is not a decision for the United States alone, of course; it is a Security Council decision and there are many views there.
QUESTION: (Unrecorded.)
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you. May I wish Ramadan Karim to all your listeners.
(end transcript)
(begin transcript)
Interview on Radio Sawa
Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State
Washington, DC November 15, 2002
MR. NADER: The FBI warnings for expectations that terrorism may happen, is this wave of intelligence reports due to the UN Security Council on Iraq? Is this a reaction to that?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Before I respond, please allow me to wish your audio audience Ramadan Karim and express a wish that all of us will be able to have a very prosperous, healthy, happy and safe future.
On the question that you've just raised, it is not -- this threat alert is not
-- a response to the UN Security Council resolution. It is a response to heightened indications that al-Qaida still wants to harm interests of the United States, and our friends and allies from the Gulf to this shore, and that's what the FBI is responding to.
MR. NADER: Mr. Secretary, does the US reserve the right to go to war without a report for a breach by Mr. Blix? Or do you need -- you don't need a resolution from Security Council to go to war with Iraq?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: President Bush made the determination that we would attempt to get a Security Council resolution which would bring home clearly to Saddam Hussein the need for him to disarm in the face of the entire international community's cry for that disarmament. But it has been our position that President Bush always has the ability to order military force to be used to protect this nation, if he deems it necessary.
So he does not need to go back to the United Nations Security Council resolution, but he has said he is certainly willing to go back and have a discussion and a consultation with the Security Council if we find Iraq in material breach.
MR. NADER: What is the US State Department planning now in case the regime is (inaudible) for the future of Iraq?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: If the regime is changed?
MR. NADER: Yes.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, there's --
MR. NADER: How is going to be ruled Iraq?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Oh, well, I don't know who's going to rule Iraq, but it will be ruled, we hope, in a fashion that will preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq, that will respect religious rights, human rights, respect the rule of law, be a nation that will not threaten its neighbors and will not possess weapons of mass destruction; in other words, an entirely better place to have as a neighbor.
MR. NADER: What is the impact of Syria's positive voting in the UN? What impact will this have on future relations with US?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I think President Asad made a very enlightened decision when he allowed Syria to vote with the other members of the Security Council to make it very clear that none of us want war, and the way to avoid war is for Saddam Hussein to disarm, as he has pledged in the past to do. So it was a very enlightened decision.
As far as the impact of relations with the United States, it is, of course, seen as a positive gesture, and we appreciate it.
MR. NADER: Mr. Secretary, what are you doing to help Lebanon have this economic conference in Paris? Are you going to send a representative from the US to the conference?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: We will send a representative. We have not decided at what level or who exactly would go. I've had the honor of having several conversations and visits with Prime Minister Hariri. We know his views. We've consulted with our French friends about this and with our Japanese friends, and we will make the decision in the near future.
MR. NADER: Yesterday, you hosted the US-Israel strategic talks. Was the issue of the problem of the Wazzani water in Lebanon raised? And how do you expect this issue to be settled?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, water in the Middle East has always been a very serious matter, from biblical times on, so of course we raised this issue and we expressed the desire to have this settled responsibly and peacefully. The United States, as you know, is very involved in the Wazzani water situation and we will continue to try to narrow the differences between the two sides.
MR. NADER: Thank you so much.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you. My pleasure. Thank you.
(end transcript)
(begin transcript)
Interview on Abu Dhabi TV
Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State
Washington, DC November 15, 2002
MR. ALAMI: Sir, the FBI has a warning of al-Qaida making some spectacular attacks. Bin Laden sent in a tape last week, or early this week. So, apparently, the war on terrorism is not over yet. Why this rush and start another front against Saddam Hussein?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, first of all, before I respond directly to your question, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish your viewers Ramadan Karim and to express the wish that all of us will have the type of future that we all deserve.
Specifically, your question about Usama bin Laden, we did receive a tape. It appears to be authentic, although US officials are not 100 percent sure yet. And the combination of the tape and the threats made on the tape and the information that has been received by ours and other intelligence agencies leads us to believe that we are in a heightened threat time, and we have to take these warnings very seriously.
MR. ALAMI: So it is wise, while taking this threat seriously, to open another front on Iraq?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, you or others could question the wisdom. Our President feels, and apparently many in the United Nations Security Council feel, that it is necessary to disarm Iraq before Iraq can again use weapons of mass destruction on her neighbors or she makes some liaison with terrorists who will use these weapons either against Iraq's neighbors or ourselves.
And I noticed that in the UN Security Council resolution, all 15 nations of the Security Council, including Syria, on the eve of an Arab League meeting, decided that the wisest course of action was to ask Saddam Hussein to disarm.
MR. ALAMI: The last visit of the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to town, the President left the impression that Israel has the right to defend itself if attacked by Saddam. What has changed since 1990-91? Under that scenario, Israel was asked not to respond if attacked by Saddam.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, in 1991, Israel showed a great deal of restraint during the Gulf War, even though she was attacked by many scud missiles. No one can ask a nation to give up the right of self-defense, and particularly when the future is unknown.
But what has changed is in the intervening ten years Saddam Hussein has continued to thumb his nose, not at the United States, but all the members of the United Nations Security Council, and, by inference, the entire body.
Regarding Israel's right of self-defense, it will always be there, but we hope and expect that Israel will again show restraint should she be threatened.
MR. ALAMI: One last question, Mr. Secretary. There are some demonstrations Tehran these days. What is your take on that? And you still believe that these young people will deliver ultimately the leadership in Tehran?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, what's important is not what I believe, nor, for that matter, what the United States believes. What's important is what the people of Iran believe.
And in this particular instance, of the demonstrations to which you refer, they are demonstrating in support of a gentleman who has been, we think, threatened with severe punishment and has also been flogged; and the death penalty in Iran, in this case, we feel is not warranted.
But I repeat again, what's important is what the people of Iran have to say about their future, and some of these young students appear to have some pretty strong views.
MR. ALAMI: Mr. Secretary, thank you so much. We appreciate it.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you very much.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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