*EPF402 03/13/2003
Powell Says All Options for Disarming Iraq Are on the Table
(U.S. is continuing diplomatic efforts at U.N. Security Council) (820)

By Merle D. Kellerhals, Jr.
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- Secretary of State Colin Powell says the United States is trying every option imaginable to resolve an ongoing dispute within the U.N. Security Council over a resolution setting six benchmarks and an ultimatum for Iraq to comply with U.N. demands to disarm itself of weapons of mass destruction or face serious consequences.

"We are still hopeful of a peaceful solution. We hope a peaceful, diplomatic way can be found," Powell told the House Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee March 13. "The options remain: go for a vote and see what members say; or not go for a vote. All the options that you can imagine are before us and we will be examining them today, tomorrow and into the weekend."

Before the U.N. Security Council -- which consists of five permanent members and 10 rotating members -- is a resolution sponsored by Britain, Spain and the United States that sets a March 17 deadline for Iraq to disarm unconditionally by giving up all weapons of mass destruction and cooperating fully with their disposal. Britain has additionally offered terms that set six benchmarks for the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein to show it is ready to meet the disarmament demands. However, France, Germany and Russia have argued against any resolution that might call for military force against Iraq.

"We are still talking to the members of the [U.N. Security] Council to see what is possible with respect to coalescing around a position that wouldn't draw a veto," Powell testified. However, he cautioned, "The day of reckoning is fast approaching."

Powell said the resolution submitted to the Security Council March 7 was a way to respond to the concerns of those nations who wanted to see whether there is one last chance for Iraq to comply with U.N. demands. "And it was pretty straightforward," he said.

Powell appeared before the House Appropriations subcommittee to discuss the State Department's $28.5 billion ($28,500 million) fiscal year 2004 budget request that includes the annual foreign operations appropriation for aid to countries and international organizations.

Powell was asked why the United States is having difficulty getting approval for its resolution. He attributed the difficulties to the fact that some Security Council members did not understand that the "U.S. was deadly serious" when the Council approved Resolution 1441 last November, which warned Iraq of serious consequences if it did not disarm.

Some members of the Security Council would like to keep the weapons inspections going, and then "just wait and see what [Saddam Hussein] will do, put the burden on the inspectors," Powell said. "The burden is not on the inspectors, the burden is on Saddam Hussein, and what 1441 required is for him to comply and cooperate fully.

"He's not complied. He's not cooperated fully. And we believe the case is clear. There are some members of the Council who will veto any resolution that comes along that might require Saddam Hussein to comply or face the use of force. And so we have found that there is a great deal of, now, disagreement over this issue."

Powell said that there is support on this issue and that "the United States is not isolated on this issue."

"The whole world recognizes that Saddam Hussein must be disarmed," he said. "This disagreement we're having is how best to accomplish that."

Powell also testified that "not all of us bought all the elements" of the British proposal to set benchmarks for Iraqi compliance, though it is "a way to see if more nations can find a way forward." He also noted twice during his testimony that one permanent member of the Security Council, whose name he did not mention specifically, and Iraq quickly objected to the British proposal after it was offered.

"So Iraq isn't looking for a solution. They know the tests. The tests have been out there forever," he said.

The drive to disarm Iraq stretches back over two administrations and 12 years of United Nations resolutions, Powell said, in response to a suggestion that the U.S. effort was pushed by Israel or by Jewish Americans.

"It is driven by our own national interests. It is driven by us trying to help the United Nations do its job," he said. "The president took one last chance for peace, and that's when he went to the United Nations to see whether or not this regime would change itself in the presence of 1441 and massive international political pressure, as well as the buildup of military forces to support diplomacy or to militarily change the regime."

Powell said the drive to disarm Iraq also is driven by U.S. concerns for the people of Iraq.

(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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