U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the SpokesmanFor Immediate Release
February 1, 2001
Washington, D.C.Q: Do you see Iraq emerging as a problem in the short term again?
SECRETARY POWELL: Problem? Iraq is a problem for its own people. I
think we have to keep reminding everybody that this is an arms control
problem. They are threatening their neighbors. They threaten the
children of the region with weapons of mass destruction. They can't
project conventional power very effectively, so they're trying to gain
strength by threatening the people of the region. They made a
commitment to do away with these weapons, and I think the international
community and the United Nations has to hold them to that commitment.
And I'll be working with our friends in the region; the President will
be working with our friends in the region and our friends in the United
Nations to hold them to account for the obligations they made.Q: Meaning allowing the inspectors back in?
SECRETARY POWELL: Hold them to account for the obligations they made.
The obligations were not solely around inspectors. The obligations
were to show to the international community that they no longer are
developing these kinds of weapons and that they do not have them.I've got to go up now.
(Simultaneous conversation.)
Q: When do you think you're going - (inaudible) - Clinton
Administration didn't do in terms of Iraq?SECRETARY POWELL: One thing I will not do is compare this
Administration to the past. You watch what we will do and you can make
the comparisons, but I'm not going to make the comparisons.Q: Well, where can you put pressures on them?
SECRETARY POWELL: You will see.
Q: How realistic is it as a plan to take out Saddam through funding
the rebel groups there at this point, in your estimation?SECRETARY POWELL: I will make that judgment. I'm not going to make
that judgment --Q: Are you going to see the INC leadership in the next few days?
SECRETARY POWELL: It's not on my calendar at the moment.