the non-debate debate over iraq

[In other words, there *is* no debate about Iraq; it's been decided that
the US will unilaterally act, the 'debate' is just quibbles between hawks
and extreme hawks over how and when, how much and who profits. Just
yesterday the same State Department -- without a hint of irony -- said
that the constant threat of war (which is illegal, by the way), from
Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, Capitol Hill, from Bush, isn't really a threat,
since Bush "hasn't made up his mind yet what to do". Amazing. -- Kendall]

28 August 2002

Debate On Iraq Not Over Existence of Problem, But How To Solve It

Following are excerpts from the August 28 State Department briefing on Iraq:

QUESTION: I'm assuming that the entire phenomenon, that you would regard
phenomenon of anti-Americanism as it's a giant misperception by the rest
of the world. (Laughter.) So in keeping along those lines, there's another
misperception out there that seems to be despite everyone saying that the
President has not made up his mind about what to do with Iraq, the rest of
the world seems to think that he has. And a lot of people, and
particularly among allies in Europe, are now really quite upset,
especially by what the Vice President had to say the other day.

One, is this misperception, which I assume you're still going to say
that's a misperception that he has decided, is that - how great a concern
is that to you guys? And two, what are you doing to counteract and
reassure these people that, in fact, no decision really has been made yet?

MR. BOUCHER: We're making clear every day in our press briefings, as well
as our statements to other governments, that the President at this point
has not made a decision. We recognize there is a lot of debate and
discussion about how to deal with the dangers that are posed by the Iraqi
regime and by its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. This is a
discussion that goes on within the United States, as you know, as well as
outside it. And the President made clear we'll continue to talk to other
governments and consult with them and hear their views as he decides how
to go forward.

QUESTION: But are there any - is it posing - is this misperception out
there posing any problems in the conduct of other foreign policy matters,
or is there a concern that it may?

MR. BOUCHER: I wouldn't speculate on that at this point about concerns that
it may. It's quite clear that everybody who does address these issues
addresses them in the context of the extensive cooperation that we already
have, both to fight terrorism and to deal with the problems of Iraq.

We have had UN resolutions that everybody supported and continues to
support. We've had a new system of controls on military goods not going to
Iraq that everybody supported and continues to support. So I think the
debate on how to deal with the dangers that are posed by Iraq's continuing
pursuit of weapons of mass destruction is in that context of our broader
cooperation. Everybody understands that there is a problem. The question
is how to deal with it.

QUESTION: I know that you went over this a bit yesterday, but was there a
decision that was taken recently that the policy of the government was
"regime change for Iraq," or, I mean, you could say this has been the
policy, but it seems that we've been hearing more and more about it. Doug
Feith on Friday gave an interview to Iraqi people. It was translated into
Arabic saying we envision Iraq free where people are rising up against
Saddam Hussein. And is that, then would that mean that we would completely
- you know, is that what maybe these other European and Arab leaders are
reacting to, because there is a decision that we were seeking a new regime
for Iraq?

MR. BOUCHER: But that's been our policy for many years. The Secretary
talked about regime change in Iraq at his confirmation hearings even
before he took office. So I think everybody knows that regime change is
the policy of the United States, has been for many years, and everybody
knows that the dangers that Iraq poses by developing weapons of mass
destruction is something that the United States believes we really need to
deal with; that this is not something, as the Vice President said, is not
something you can let go on and fester until they do or do not succeed in
getting these weapons.

We already know from previous history and inspections they will use the
weapons when they have them and they are still trying to cheat and hide on
their obligations. So the issue is not something created by the United
States. The issue is something created by the fact that Iraq continues to
defy the international community and continues to pose a danger to the
international community by pursuing these programs.

Terri.

QUESTION: Did the State Department or its missions overseas get a lot of
calls after the Vice President's speech thinking that that had ratcheted
things up quite a bit? Did you have to explain that this was merely
restating, a restating of US policy?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't know how many calls we got. Certainly after any
significant policy statement, our embassies not only get calls, but they
take a proactive approach. The make available transcripts and texts of
things that we've said, and to any calls they might get they provide the
facts and the information.

QUESTION: So nobody was too alarmed that you know of?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, you've seen plenty of press commentaries by people.
Whether they said it in the press or called us, as well, I don't know in
every case. But there have certainly been various reactions, one might
say.

-----

QUESTION: Still on Iraq. To add to the chorus of people that disapprove of
the discussions on Iraq, General Zinni came out and was quite harsh in his
appraisal, saying that he equated this to perhaps a Bay of Goats, that he
says that attacking Iraq would derail the war on terrorism, jeopardize the
United States presence in Afghanistan, and terminate the prospects of an
Israeli-Palestinian agreement. Those people - all the generals seem to
think alike, but those who've not participated -

MR. BOUCHER: I read the story, too. You don't have to quote everything.
Actually, I read the one two days ago, too.

QUESTION: Yes.

MR. BOUCHER: I don't have any particular comment on what any private
individual has had to say on this topic. There's been a great deal of
commentary from people in former administrations or formerly with the
government, people who are private citizens, commentators who express
their view. General Zinni does any number of things now, giving speeches,
teaching classes, he works on Aceh, and he works for us, has worked for us
at times, on the issue of security for the Israelis and the
Palestinians. And I think the last time he was active in that regard was
earlier this year, but that's really the only subject on which he's done
work for us.

QUESTION: Is he still working?

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah, he still - you know, we still have a contract. You
know, activate when needed, and at this point we haven't done that for six
months or so. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Well, I mean, this may be a hypothetical -

MR. BOUCHER: But I mean, you know, he's doing this one thing for us. The
rest of his life is his life and the rest of what he says is what he says.

QUESTION: Well, given the fact that he's publicly expressed these views
which - on Iraq, would that in any way affect thinking about maybe sending
him back to work in his envoy duties?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't know. If that issue of sending him back in this, I
think, Senior Advisor to the Secretary on Israeli-Palestinian Issues -
Senior Advisor is what we usually called him - you know, if the instance
comes up where we want to do that again, whether this would affect it or
not I don't know.

  _____

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