DoD News Briefing

NEWS TRANSCRIPT from the United States Department of Defense

DoD News Briefing
Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld
Wednesday, February 14, 2001
(Interview by Jim Lehrer on PBS Newshour)

Lehrer: Also you are going to go ahead with the missile defense system, are you not?
Rumsfeld: The president has indicated that he intends to deploy a missile defense system. We are internally now reviewing various options. He concluded - and I think fairly - that vulnerability for the American people is not an appropriate strategy.
Lehrer: Do you think a system can be developed that can do this, the technology is there?
Rumsfeld: I think that there is no question in my mind but that we will be able to evolve a system that will be able to deal with ballistic missiles. We know that the proliferation of these technologies across the globe is pervasive. We know that the Gulf War persuaded people they ought not to contest western armies and navies and - they are looking at weapons of mass destruction. Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, terrorism and various and things where they can have an advantage, so-called asymmetrical advantage; and, therefore, it's appropriate that we develop the capability to deal with relatively small numbers of these things. We are not talking about a shield to deal with tens and hundreds of thousands of these things. And Russia's concern about it - it seems is me - is not really serious because they know for sure that they have thousand of these things and we are talking about dealing are hands full.
Lehrer: So why have they objected?
Rumsfeld: Oh, I don't know. I don't climb in people's mind. Obviously it's to their advantage to express concern about it. There is the ABM Treaty, which they would have to adjust. I think before it's over, they will accommodate themselves. Of course, let's be very honest about what Russia is doing. Russia is an active proliferator. They are part of the problem. They are selling and assisting countries like Iran and North Korea and India and other countries with these technologies which are threatening other people including the United States and Western Europe and countries in the Middle East. So why they would be actively proliferating and then complaining when the United States wants to defend itself against the, the fruit of those proliferation activities, it seems to me, is misplaced.
Lehrer: What about the objections from Western Europe, our allies?
Rumsfeld: Well, I think what you've heard from the United States in recent years was that it was a - that the Russians didn't want to us do it. And that concerned Europe. I think Europe at this stage is going to accommodate and understand and feel the same kinds of threats that we do. I don't think that it's going to be a problem.
Lehrer: You've already been to Munich for your first meeting with your fellow defense ministers.
Rumsfeld: I have.
Lehrer: And what was your feel after the meeting? Can you win them over do you think?
Rumsfeld: Oh, I think so. I think they are realistic. These are our allies, these are people who are, you know, very rational people. They look at the nature of the threat. They look at the degree to which proliferation is occurring and the spread of these capabilities is occurring - and I think that they will recognize, just as we do, that a position of vulnerability is not a proper policy. We were comfortable during the Cold War with mutual assured destruction, with the threat of massive retaliation.
Change is hard - to go away and say, look, the Cold War is over - it's hard for men who have spent their adult lives living with Cold War think in their mindset. And what we have to do is say, that chapter is there. We now live in a somewhat different world. There are evolving threats. Cyber warfare, information warfare, terrorism - these are things that are happening today. And we have to be attentive to the new threats and we have to fashion deterrents that will, in fact, help it contribute to a more peaceful and a safer world.