DoD News Briefing

NEWS TRANSCRIPT from the United States Department of Defense

DoD News Briefing
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
Sunday, February 11, 2001
(Interview by Cokie Roberts and Sam Donaldson on ABC-TV This Week)

Donaldson: Let's look about Iraq, now. And let's look at a Defense Department report that was released just this month. Part of which reads as follows, that "Baghdad, likely, in the absence of UNSCOM inspections and monitoring during 1999 and 2000, we're concerned that Baghdad, again, may have produced some biological warfare agents." The report also said that Baghdad likely also has warheads capable of delivering chemical or biological agents. Do they?
Rumsfeld: There's no question but that Saddam Hussein and his regime have had an enormous appetite for nuclear, chemical and biological weapons over a sustained period of time. There's nothing new about this. They have been, in varying degrees, successful in developing those types of capabilities. The absence of inspectors makes their ability to continue that process, obviously, easier for them.
Donaldson: How are you going to get the inspectors back? For two years they've not been there.
Rumsfeld: Well, I understand, and therefore, reasonable people have to assume that this individual, Saddam Hussein, has continued his energetic efforts and we obviously have some information and there are things, obviously, we don't know because of the absence of inspectors.
Donaldson: You do have some information?
Rumsfeld: The United States certainly is able to determine some things with respect to what's taking place in the country.
Donaldson: Has he, in fact, built up his chemical, biological and maybe nuclear agents?
Rumsfeld: You can begin with the correct assumption that he has a very strong desire to have all of those capabilities. That existed prior to the Gulf War. It existed during the Gulf War. And it existed after the Gulf War. Indeed, we know he's had the continued effort with respect to the development of ballistic missiles.
Donaldson: Mr. Secretary, when do the allies do something about that? Do they wait till he uses them?
Rumsfeld: Secretary of State Colin Powell is, as you know, going to be leaving for the Middle East very shortly. He plans to talk to our allies and our coalition partners and to address questions exactly like the ones you're posing.
Donaldson: It's said, sir, that you and Powell are a little bit at odds on this. That you're the hawk --
Rumsfeld: That is utter nonsense! Colin - there's not daylight between Colin Powell's views on Iraq and my views on Iraq. Maybe a little sliver. [Laughs] No, seriously --
Donaldson: A little sliver, sir?
Rumsfeld: No, really. We talk every day and we both are trying to figure out how we can best be arranged to see that the Saddam Hussein regime is not successful in continuing to develop those types of capabilities and threatening their neighbors.
Donaldson: Secretary Rumsfeld, there's a lot more to talk about, but unfortunately, our time is up. Will you come back?
Rumsfeld: Indeed. I'll be delighted to.
Donaldson: It's good to see you, sir.
Rumsfeld: Thank you.