Hearings Committee On Foreign Relations United States Senate
Hearings Committee On Foreign Relations United States Senate
Hearings Committee On Foreign Relations United States Senate
107798
HEARINGS
BEFORE THE
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COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., Delaware, Chairman
PAUL S. SARBANES, Maryland JESSE HELMS, North Carolina
CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, Connecticut RICHARD G. LUGAR, Indiana
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts CHUCK HAGEL, Nebraska
RUSSELL D. FEINGOLD, Wisconsin GORDON H. SMITH, Oregon
PAUL D. WELLSTONE, Minnesota BILL FRIST, Tennessee
BARBARA BOXER, California LINCOLN D. CHAFEE, Rhode Island
ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, New Jersey GEORGE ALLEN, Virginia
BILL NELSON, Florida SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia MICHAEL B. ENZI, Wyoming
(II)
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CONTENTS
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NEXT STEPS IN IRAQ
U.S. SENATE,
COMMITTEE
FOREIGN RELATIONS,
ON
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:15 p.m., in room
SD419, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
(chairman of the committee), presiding.
Present: Senators Biden, Dodd, Kerry, Feingold, Wellstone,
Boxer, Bill Nelson, Rockefeller, Helms, Lugar, Hagel, Chafee, and
Brownback.
The CHAIRMAN. The hearing will come to order, please. Good
afternoon. In late July and early August, this committee held 2
days of hearings on U.S. policy toward Iraq, and our purpose was
to begin a national discussion of that policy and to raise some of
the difficult questions surrounding any consideration of the next
step. We heard from a broad range of expert witnesses, and in the
weeks since prominent Americans with decades of experience in
foreign policy and national security policy have spoken out, and so
has the Bush administration in public statements, in hearings be-
fore the Congress, and President Bushs powerful speech in the
United Nations General Assembly.
As a result, I believe there is an emerging bipartisan consensus
on the basic principles for moving forward on Iraq, and rather than
give this entire statement that I have, let me suggest that I am of
the view, and speaking for myself, that no matter how well con-
ducted, foreign policy cannot be sustained without the informed
consent of the American people.
I personally am looking forward to the President shortly going to
the Nation, as he went to the United Nations, and making the case
for what he wishes to do relative to Iraq. He made a compelling
case in the United Nations as to why Iraq has violated the United
Nations own rules, principles, and sanctions, but that is not suffi-
cient, in my view, nor do I believe the President believes it is suffi-
cient to convince the American people as to what we must do.
It is one thing to lay out the threat. But we need a clear, un-
equivocal statement of what the U.S. objective is in Iraq. Is it
weapons of mass destruction? Is it regime change? Is it return of
Bahraini prisoners? What is it? Why hasand I believe I am in-
clined to believe it has, but why has the policy of containing Sad-
dam failed? What is the urgency? What are the regional consider-
ations? What should we be prepared for? What is likely to occur in
the mind of the President, and what aboutSenator Lugar and I
sent an extensive letter to the President prior to his speech before
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ing, there is no debate that the United States retains the authority
to use force to protect the national security interest of the United
States, and with that, I am going to conclude, and await answers
and the testimony of our two distinguished witnesses.
The CHAIRMAN. Our first panel today is Ambassador Richard C.
Holbrooke, who served as the United States Permanent Represent-
ative to the United Nations from 1999 to 2001. Before joining the
U.N. mission, he was vice chairman of Credite Suisse First Boston
from 1996 to 1999. He also served as Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Canadian Affairs from 1994 to 1996, and was the
Ambassador to Germany from 1993 to 1994, and is currently a
counselor for the Council on Foreign Relations, and vice chairman
of a leading private equity firm.
We also have Hon. Robert McFarlane. It is good to have you
back.
Mr. McFarlane was National Security Advisor from 1983 to 1985.
He also served as Deputy National Security Advisor from 1982 to
1983, and counselor at the State Department from 1981 to 1982.
He is currently chairman of Energy and Communications Solu-
tions, an infrastructure development firm.
I welcome you both, and we regret that Mr. Pickering and Am-
bassador Kirkpatrick were unable at the last moment to be able to
appear, and we thank both the witnesses for being here.
The floor is yours, Mr. Ambassador.
STATEMENT OF HON. RICHARD C. HOLBROOKE, FORMER U.S.
AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, COUNSELOR,
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, NEW YORK, NY
Ambassador HOLBROOKE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of
this distinguished committee. It is a great honor to appear before
you again today at the start of hearings of such historic impor-
tance, and to join you, Mr. Chairman, in especially welcoming Sen-
ator Helms back here again.
The last time I testified before this committee, he sat where you
did, and you were very gracious in your support of me, and I wel-
come the confidence and support all of you who are here today have
given me.
In my opening remarks, I shall discuss three key issues, first, the
process which is finally underway in both the Congress and the
United Nations Security Council after what I believe was a costly
and unnecessary delay; second, the goal of American policy in re-
gard to Iraq, that is, regime change, which I support; and third, the
draft resolution before you today, to which I would suggest four
specific changes before passage.
In regard to the first matter, let me say that the process does,
indeed, matter, and the prolonged reluctance of the administration
to consult adequately with either the Congress or the Security
Council was a costly, self-inflicted mistake. During the long and
confused summer, an impression of disarray was left with the
world, and during that same period those who opposed any action
against Saddam and those who simply disagreed with the tactics
being followed coalesced into a large, almost inadvertent opposi-
tion. It was only when the President and the administration, how-
ever reluctantly, pledged to send a resolution to the Hill that the
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problem here began to resolve itself, but the problem is far from
over.
If the administration refuses to consider responsible and serious
changes to the resolution that comes out of Congress, it would
again needlessly weaken the unity necessary for success. Congress
always has a role in such issues, and it must be a coequal branch
in deliberations over the draft before you. Senator Helms, I even
knew that before you told it to me, because I learned it in high
school, but it was one of your main lessons in your trips to New
York, and I just want to repeat it.
The other matter was equally serious, the all-too-visible con-
tempt for the United Nations, and even some of our closest friends,
was a major impediment to the very sort of collective action that
is most likely to succeed.
The Presidents well-crafted and well-delivered speech to the
General Assembly in New York, followed by Secretary Powells in-
tense negotiations with Security Council members, has signifi-
cantly improved the situation. I know that some Members of this
body have strong views on the proper sequencing of these two
tracks, specifically that congressional action should follow a new
Security Council resolution, as was the case in 19901991.
My own view on this is that it would be better in this case if the
Congress did act first. This would help Secretary Powell in obtain-
ing the best possible resolution at the Security Council by sending
a signal of national unity to the Security Councils members, espe-
cially those countries most critical to Security Council resolution.
Russia and France of course come to mind.
However, I would add that sequencing is not an absolutely crit-
ical issue. It can work in either direction. The exact wording of
your resolution that is before you today, which I will turn to in a
moment, is, however, extremely important. While it is absolutely
necessary for the United States to make a clear, good faith effort
to achieve a new Security Council resolution, I do not believe it is
absolutely essential to achieve it. Highly desirable, yes. Absolutely
essential, no.
Saddams clear violation of existing Security Council resolutions
does provide an existing legal basis for action, but as former Sec-
retary of State James Baker has written, from a political and prac-
tical point of view, it would greatly enhance Americas position if
we received another clear, renewed mandate, and that is what Sec-
retary Powell is currently seeking.
In fact, twice in the last decade, in Bosnia in 1995 and especially
in Kosovo in 1999, the Clinton administration took military action
without Security Council approval, and that was because the Rus-
sians had indicated to us that they would veto. To be sure, we did
have unanimous NATO support in both cases, something that is far
less likely today, especially in light of recent events in Germany.
The Clinton administrations actions in Bosnia, which were sup-
ported by many members of this committee, most notably Chair-
man Biden, who had urged action years before it took place, did not
even receive support from the House, yet President Clinton acted
in accordance with his constitutional authority. As you proceed, I
hope we should keep in mind and not ignore such recent history.
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PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. RICHARD C. HOLBROOKE, FORMER AMBASSADOR TO
THE UNITED NATIONS
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that included a fifteen percent reduction in U.S. dues to the UN. Yet despite the
best efforts of Senator Biden, Senator Helms, and many of you, the Congress has
still failed to release the remaining $244 million due in the third round of the effort
to pay down our arrears.
I mention this issue for a reason: in order to lead, in order to assemble inter-
national coalitions for actionas President George H.W. Bush did in 1991ground-
work must be laid through efforts like the collaborative Helms-Biden reform effort.
Without the success of that effort, we would now be facing an arrears of such mag-
nitude that Secretary Powells efforts would be weakened. Yet some still do not see
that the United Nations, with all its flaws, is still indispensable, and serves our na-
tional interests far more often than it weakens them. This is especially true if the
United States, instead of ignoring the UN, works to strengthen it through strong
leadership.
Let me now turn to the question of Americas national security goals in this un-
folding drama. The last Administration supported regime change as a legitimate
policy goal. This was a change from the position of the first Bush Administration,
and one that I fully supported. I would point out that, after Kosovo and the indict-
ment of Slobodan Milosevic by the International War Crimes Tribunal, we adopted
a similar goal regarding Milosevic, and carried out a policy of isolation, covert and
overt assistance to his opponents, andwith the decisive involvement of the Serbian
peoplesucceeded. Saddam is even more dangerous than Milosevic, given his con-
tinuing quest for weapons of mass destruction. Left alone, he will only seek to be-
come stronger, and thus a greater threat to the region and beyond. Hence, I accept
the argument that once the goal of regime change is established, the United States
should work to achieve it.
Having agreed that regime change is desirableeven necessarydoes not, how-
ever, go to the question of means. If events take a fortunate turn, the people them-
selves may rise up and remove a dictator after massive international pressure and
isolation. Although in the last seventeen years this has happened, in one form or
another, in such diverse places as the Philippines, Romania, and Yugoslavia, we all
understand that it is virtually inconceivable in Iraq. There is perhaps a somewhat
higher chance that an individual acting alone, or a small group of people with direct
access, might take action to eliminate a tyrant whose behavior threatens their own
survival. This is, in fact, the situation today in Iraq: the entire Iraqi military surely
must recognize that it will be destroyedand probably quicklyif events follow
their present course to its logical conclusion. Yet even as we hope for such an out-
come, we cannot base policy on it; that would be substituting prayer for policy,
never a good approach to a serious venture. Still, it is tempting to entertain the
hope, before moving on to more realisticand more difficultscenarios.
This brings us back to the use of force to achieve our goals. If all else fails, collec-
tive action against Saddam is, in my view, justified by the situation and the record
of the last decade. While we talk of airtight weapons inspectionno notice, any-
where, anytimeand disarmament, we must recognize that once launched on a
course for either of those objectives, the chances for a military conflict go up dra-
matically, since Saddam is unlikely to comply fully. So we should not deceive our-
selves on this point: we are talking today about a very possible war. And once start-
ed, that war will have as its objective, whether stated or not, a change of regime
in Baghdad.
It is highly unfortunate that some advocates of regime change have talked in
terms of going it alone or the need to act unilaterally or proclaimed an alleged
new doctrine of pre-emptive war. In fact, the United States will not be alone in such
a campaign, as Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld stated last week. In addition to the
British, whose Prime Minister, Tony Blair, deserves enormous praise for his staunch
and eloquent support of the United States, I believe that Turkey, the indispensable
NATO ally, will be supportive, as well as several other key nations that will find
ways to assist a campaign without compromising their own domestic situation.
I also believe that the odds favor a successful outcome against Iraq, and, as Sen-
ator John Kerry has written, probably rather quickly. The deterioration of the Iraqi
military since 1991, and the vast improvement in the American military, which I
have seen first hand over the last several decades, suggests that success should be
readily achievable. However, in the fog of war terrible things can happen. There is
a real danger, which we should not ignore, that what starts as a war against Iraq,
especially if protracted, could metastasize into a wider conflict between Arabs and
Israel. It is irresponsible for people, some of them closely allied to the Administra-
tion and purporting to speak for it, who talk of the war as a cakewalk or a quick
rush to Baghdad. They may be right, and like all Americans I hope this will be the
case if war comes. But such language demeans and insults the risks that brave
young American men and women will face, and are already facing in Afghanistan
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and the Balkans, and the casualties that will inevitably take place even under the
best of circumstances. I defer, of course, to several members of this Committee
whose courage under fire in Vietnam is a matter of record. But, as a veteran of
three years as a State Department civilian working alongside the American military
in Vietnam, and a eyewitness to war and its horrors on two other continents, I must
stress the obvious: war is truly hell. There is nothing noble or heroic about its con-
sequences, even though it can bring out the best in people; it can also bring out the
worst. If war comes, let us go forward with a sober appreciation of its honors, its
waste, its costs.
Let me turn now, finally, to the draft resolution itself I note that in transmitting
it to the Congress, the White House invited a full and frank discussion over the
draft wording. As Chairman Biden noted already, it is just a draft. The last time
such a draft came up, right after September 11, changes were made in a bipartisan
spirit. I believe that the current draft proposal from the Administration could ben-
efit from the same action, although I hopeand I urgethat it be as rapid as pos-
sible.
Let me offer at least four specific suggestions for improvement:
first, and most important, I believe that the authority requested in the final
sentence (Section 2) is too broad, specifically in regard to the third phrase,
which would authorize the President to use all means to restore international
peace and security in the region. This phrase, which I believe is taken out of
context from paragraph 34 of UN Security Council Resolution 687 (1991), has
a different meaning in this draft resolution than it had in 687. It is far too
broadamounting to a virtual blank check authority. Resolution 687 referred,
clearly, only to the preceding paragraphs of the Security Council resolution; the
region referred to in 687 meant Kuwait and Iraq. In the draft before you, it
could mean anything, and I strongly endorse the concerns expressed by Senator
Feingold and some of his colleagues. This phrase should simply be removed; re-
fining it, which is an option, is simply too cumbersome and unnecessary. Your
resolution should focus clearly on Iraqnothing else.
second, I believe the resolution should contain a statement of strong support for
the efforts of the president, the Secretary of State, and their colleagues to
achieve a satisfactory Security Council resolution. This would emphasize the im-
portance of the Security Council and show our unity to the nations now wavering
over this issue.
third, I would suggest that you add a reporting clause, requiring the Adminis-
tration to inform and consult the Congress on a very timely basis, perhaps as
frequently as every month, in writing, and even more frequently in closed and
highly confidential meetings, as they proceed. The Administration should not be
left with the ability to say that if this resolution passes, they have discharged
their obligation to consult and inform Congress, as President Johnson did after
the Gulf of Tonkin resolution in August 1964.
fourth, I would strongly urge you to add a section concerning the importance
of post-conflict reconstruction in Iraq as part of a broad new policy towards the
region. Since the story of Afghanistan is not entirely satisfactory on this point
to put it mildlyand since some people are already suggesting that reconstruc-
tion can be done either by other countries or simply through the Iraqis using
their own oil revenues, it is important to make clear that the job is not over
simply if Saddam is replaced by someone else. A successor might be almost as
bad, or bad in a different way. Chaos could follow. The material for Weapons
of Mass Destruction could fall into the wrong hands. We do not want to see Iraq
become a safe haven for other forms of terrorists, as happened in Afghanistan
after the United States turned its back on the country in 1989. That mistake
second only, in my opinion, to letting Saddam survive in 1991created the con-
ditions that led to Osama bin Laden and the Al-qaeda network setting up shop
in Afghanistan.
I would recommend, therefore, that you add to this resolution language making
clear that the post-Saddam structure in Iraq is of continuing concern to the United
States, not only in Baghdad but also in the south and in the Kurdish north. These
groups must not be betrayed and slaughtered again. The time to make that clear
is nowbefore anything begins on the battlefield.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my opening statement. I look forward to entering
into a dialogue with you on this momentous occasion.
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The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much for being here. Mr. McFar-
lane, thank you for being here. It is good to have you back before
the committee.
STATEMENT OF HON. ROBERT C. McFARLANE, FORMER NA-
TIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, CHAIRMAN, ENERGY & COMMU-
NICATIONS SOLUTIONS, WASHINGTON, DC
Mr. MCFARLANE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am deeply hon-
ored to be invited to participate in your deliberations on the deci-
sion to go or not to go to war, deeply honored always to be party
to the deliberations of this great body. My father served in the
other body, but I have had the honor of serving at the Armed Serv-
ices Committee under the leadership of Chairman Stennis, Senator
Goldwater, Senator Jackson, giants of this body.
I come today as one who was deployed in the Gulf of Tonkin in
1964, and shortly thereafter commanded a unit of the first landing
of American forces in Vietnam. That landing occurred under Presi-
dential authority, endorsed by the U.S. Senate. The events leading
up to our engagement there, specifically the fraud that was per-
petrated on this body and on the American people, profoundly af-
fected American attitudes toward launching war and, since that
day, and in the ensuing decades, the mistrust stemming from our
ill-conceived entry into that conflict has resulted in sustained seri-
ous introspection concerning why and how we decide to go to war.
We live in a world, not to say a community of nation states that
coexist, compete, covet, and conspire to survive and prosper.
Through centuries of struggle, we have conceived doctrines, de-
fenses, dogmas designed to settle disputes among states peacefully:
concepts like mediation, arbitration, arms control, collective secu-
rity have all been tried and have often succeeded in reducing ten-
sions and settling disagreements.
To be fair, even the failures of one or another of these frame-
works have been useful, for they have added to our knowledge of
what works and what does not work and, thus, they move us closer
to building an international system that can be effective in settling
disputes peacefully. But we are not there yet. Disputes and vio-
lence among nation states seem to be inevitable for as long as the
lust for power and hubris remain unchecked by institutions and
popular governments, and that is what brings us here today.
Today and for the past generation we have faced a threat from
Saddam Hussein that has proven resistant to all of the bodies, the
systems, the frameworks, the creations of architecture and
statecraft that we have devised. The threat is posed by weapons of
mass destruction in the hand of a monomaniacal despot bent upon
regional domination, with all that such domination would imply for
nations throughout the world.
Today, in Iraq, there are chemical and biological weapons and
systems to deliver them on the shelf that could be used to kill tens
if not hundreds of thousands of people in the region and beyond.
History tells us that Saddam Hussein also has the will to use these
weapons, and has done so. In short, we face a man with the means
and the willingness to attack his neighbors and us.
Through the years, through trial and error in the use of these
several efforts at dispute resolution that I have described, we have
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begun to distill a few rules about going to war, and we have begun
to establish a few of them in custom and practice, although not in
law. The one that is most shared among nations is the notion that
force ought not to be used except as a last resort, and before resort-
ing to it, states should exhaust all of the nonviolent alternatives.
For the past 6 weeks, that is what President Bush has been
doing. Together with allies, he has presented the factual record of
Saddam Husseins successful drive to attain chemical and biological
weapons and the means to deliver them. He has made the case for
action to deal with this clear and present threat to the peace as
called for in the United Nations charter.
Within weeks, the coming weeks, he will have made the case at
the United Nations, made the case with the U.S. allies, before the
U.S. Congress, and I believe before the American people, for taking
action to constrain once and for all the ruthless ambitions of Sad-
dam Hussein.
I agree with Ambassador Holbrooke that to move forward in this
action does not require a new U.N. resolution. Indeed, to insist on
yet another one in the face of the violations and persistent abuse
that we have seen in the past 10 years is to devalue the importance
of a U.N. resolution.
In calling for action, I recognize that some have called launching
a war today against Iraq preemption. I disagree. Preemption im-
plies precipitous action taken without warning against an evident
threat without affording the threatening country an opportunity to
cure the grievance. This is surely not the case with Saddam Hus-
sein. For 20 years he has been afforded the opportunity to dem-
onstrate a change in the aggressive behavior expressed in his inva-
sion of Iran and of Kuwait, his repressive brutality against his own
people, and his obvious ambition for regional hegemony.
Clearly, however, a launching of a war in Iraq will establish a
precedent that we cannot want to see emulated by others, without
fulfillment of accepted principles. I am confident that the President
and his administration are focused on that very issue, and that the
relevant criteria to justify a preemptive attack will be enunciated
in the days ahead.
They will include in my judgment, among others, transgressions
such as we are seeing in Iraq in recent history, a history of aggres-
sion against neighbors, unchecked power within Iraq, and the pos-
session and the will, the military means to inflict mass casualties,
the ability and readiness to use them on short notice.
It is a measure of moral strength in our society that we place a
very heavy burden of proof on our government before it launches
a war, but this forbearance does come at a price, a price measured
in the growing risk of attack by Iraq as we continue to explore al-
ternative means. It is never easy to judge how much lost time and
risk is prudent. Our modern tendency to hold out hope beyond all
reasonable expectations was born in an era when the threatened
action would not have been catastrophic. Today, however, the price
of error is much, much higher, measured in horrendous loss.
Mr. Chairman, in light of this history of aggression and brutality,
of willful violation of United Nations resolutions and obstruction of
its inspectors, with evidence of an extant and growing arsenal of
mass destruction systems and a willingness to use them, and hav-
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and biological weapons and systems to deliver them on the shelf that if used could
kill tensif not hundredsof thousands of innocent people. And history tells us
that Saddam Hussein also has the will to use these awful weapons. In short, we
face a man with the means and the proven willingness to attack his neighbors and
us.
Through the years through trial and error in the use of the several efforts at dis-
pute resolution Ive described, we have begun to distill a few rules about going to
war and to try to establish them in customary practice if not law. We must recog-
nize, however, that while these rules may nurture more civil practice among nation
states they dont solve the problem. The one that is most shared among nations
throughout the world is the notion that force ought to be a last resort and before
resorting to it states should exhaust the nonviolent alternatives. For the past six
weeks that is what President Bush has been doing. Together with allies he has pre-
sented the factual record of Saddam Husseins successful drive to attain chemical
and biological weapons and the means to deliver them. He has made the case for
action to deal, with this clear and present threat to the peace as called for in the
UN charter. Within weeks he will have made the case at the UN, with allies, and
before the U.S. Congress for taking action to constrain once and for all the ruthless
ambitions of Saddam Hussein.
Some have called this preemption. I disagree. For preemption implies precipitous
action taken without warning against an evident threat without affording the
threatening country an opportunity to cure the grievance. This is surely not the case
with Saddam Hussein. For twenty years he has been afforded the opportunity to
demonstrate a change in the aggressive behavior expressed in his invasion of neigh-
boring Iran and Kuwait, his repressive brutality against his own people and his ob-
vious ambition for regional hegemony.
Clearly our launching of an attack on Iraq will establish a precedent that we can-
not want to see emulated by others without fulfillment of accepted principles. I am
confident that the Administration is focused on that issue and the relevant criteria
today and that they will be enunciated in the days ahead. They will include inter
alia transgressions such as we see in Iraq todaya history of aggression, unchecked
power, and military means with the capacity to inflict mass casualties.
It is a sign of moral strength in a society that it places a heavy burden of proof
on its government before approving the initiation of war. This forbearance comes at
a price measured in the growing risk of attack as we explore alternative means of
resolution. It is never easy to judge how much lost time and increased risk is pru-
dent. Our modern tendency to hold out hope beyond all reasonable expectations was
born in an era when the threatened action would not be catastrophic. Today, how-
ever, the price of error is much highermeasured in horrendous loss.
Mr. Chairman, in light of this history of aggression and brutality, of willful viola-
tion of United Nations resolutions and obstruction of its inspectors, with evidence
of an extant and growing arsenal of mass destruction systems and a willingness to
use them, and having used all alternative means at hand to avoid conflict, we must
now act To do so is not to preemptfar from it. It is to do our duty, it is to vindicate
the trust of generations before us to act with prudence and deliberation to defend
our values, our people and our way of life.
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of putting the focus where it belongs: on Iraqs dangerous and illegal weapons pro-
grams.
Third, we must be candid with the American people that Iraq represents a long
term commitment by the United States. We urge you to formulate and express a
vision for a democratic, unified, post-Saddam Iraq, living in peace with its neigh-
bors. The American people must know the military, financial and human capital the
United States would be prepared to commit to help realize that vision. The Iraqi
people and their neighbors must be confident that chaos will not follow Saddam
Hussein. Moreover, you would help assuage international concerns that the current
unsettled situation in Afghanistan may be replicated in Iraq, with far greater stra-
tegic consequences.
Mr. President, we thank you for beginning the process of consultation on Iraq. We
stand ready to work closely with you on this grave and important issue.
Sincerely,
JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., Chairman.
RICHARD G. LUGAR.
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Some have upped that figure. The implications of this with regard
to all of our budgeting, all of our priorities for several years, are
very substantial. This does not deny the need to go to war if that
is required, but it does require the American people have some idea
in advance of priorities that have been set, and I think this really
has to be spelled out.
Third, there is a pledge to avert chaos in Iraq and in a post-war
situation that is implied, at least in the draft of the resolution.
However, I have been trying to query the administration as to
whether in the planning there is an idea of how many troops are
going to be involved and for how long. I am informed there has
been some discussion of that, and I am glad that is the case, but
I think probably publicly there needs to be more.
Afghanistan has been mentioned by our witnesses today. This is
not a good example of averting chaos after a war. In the case of
Iraq, we know that you have a 17 percent Sunni minority that is
in control and a 60 percent Shiite majority that could very well
commit atrocities against their former oppressors. Are we going to
take the responsibility of policing Iraq, and the answer probably is
yes, if we are to avoid total chaos. But that is something that really
has to be discussed.
The fourth thing that must be determined is our plan for finally
getting our hands on the weapons of mass destruction in the midst
of all of this police activity, expenditure, and war. That is not clear
at all, where these dual purpose sheds are that deal with chemical
and biological weapons.
Some thoughts have been that perhaps when we get there we
may be able to interrogate scientists who have been involved in
this and that they will lead us to these sites. Our main focus must
be to eliminate the weapons of mass destruction. How ironic, hav-
ing fought a war and trying to maintain order we still would not
know where the weapons were or whether they had been destroyed.
We must hear from someone about how we will do this.
Now, finally, Mr. Chairman, you have been most tolerant about
my editorializing about weapons of mass destruction in Russia, but
it is relevant. We are asked, how do we know whether Saddam
might, in fact, develop something in the next year? The answer al-
ways is, he might get the fissile material from somewhere else.
Where? Someone has suggested recently Africa. Well, a better bet
is Russia.
Now, we have been talking about this in the committee with
some productive results. The chairman and I visited with the Presi-
dent, Dr. Rice, and the Vice President in June about this specific
issue. Unknown to the President, various regulations were run up
by the Congress that were not waived by the administration this
year had led to a stoppage of the Nunn-Lugar program in Russia.
The President was startled by this, instructed Dr. Rice to move
ahead, she has, she has written a very good letter which I used on
the Senate floor to get an amendment to give the President waiver
authority so we might start destroying the 40,000 metric tons of
chemical weapons in Russia. That is now in the Defense appropria-
tions conference. It has not yet happened. Nothing is happening at
Shchuchya. The 40,000 metric tons are still sitting there, hopefully
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not for the Iraqis or for somebody else, but nevertheless, they are
all still there.
So I plea in public for the House conferees to let it go. Let the
President have the waiver authority. Ditto in the Defense author-
ization committee. The Senate has provided the President with per-
manent waiver authority to destroy weapons of mass destruction.
The House conferees have not acceded to that wish. That is tied up
as of this moment.
Still the President asked and we offered legislation in this com-
mittee to let the so-called Nunn-Lugar act operate outside the
former Soviet Union in places like Pakistan, or Afghanistan, or
wherever threats might show up. The House conferees have said
no. They do not want it outside of Russia. This is incomprehensible,
given the debate we are having today about Iraq, and this is why
I take the time of this committee in this very public way, to plead
with the House conferees in these two situations, Defense author-
ization and Defense appropriations we must give the President of
the United States at this crisis time waiver authority so he can
proceed to destroy the weapons of mass destruction, or even find
them, wherever they may be outside of Russia, and I think this is
relevant to the hearing.
I thank the witnesses for offering suggestions on the resolution,
and I would say with regard to the final sentence that you men-
tioned, Ambassador Holbrooke, I made that point this morning. It
is not good language, and I have shared that with Senator Bidens
staff, and so perhaps we can make some improvement there.
I thought the reporting requirement was an interesting idea, and
I am not sure how that works in, but I am sure craftsmen can
probably find some way, and likewise, the post-conflict construction
of Iraq, I have made already quite a to-do about. I think that is
important, otherwise, there will be chaos.
But I just appreciate both of you coming. Your testimony has
been very, very thoughtful. It comes from great experience. You are
friends of the committee and friends of us. I thank you.
The CHAIRMAN. With the indulgence of the committee, I think it
is appropriate to make two points at this time, not in terms of
questions. I think part of what is going on here as it relates to Iraq
is that there is a desire to demonstrate, and I am prepared to dem-
onstrate it, support for the Presidents initiative at the United Na-
tions and support for separating Saddam from his weapons, or from
power, or both.
That is going simultaneously with an effort yet to be articulated
to me as to exactly what the administration is seeking at the U.N.
Now, maybe my colleagues know. No one has told me, chairman of
the Foreign Relations Committee, specifically what is being sought
by Secretary Powell at the United Nations.
To make the point of Mr. McFarlane, he said there needs to be
a criteria enunciated in the days ahead as the basis for our action.
The irony is, we are being asked to vote on a declaration of war
before that criteria is set, for make no mistake, although I am only
an adjunct professor of constitutional law, this area I know. A reso-
lution authorizing the use of force has the same exact force as a
declaration of war, and so in a sense there is some confusion. As
my grandpop might have said, I am not sure the horse can carry
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the sleigh, or we are putting the cart before the horse, to keep this
stupid metaphor going.
The notion here is, I am convinced the President is well-intended
here. Senator Lugar may recall, in the necessary absence of Sen-
ator Helms, at a White House congressional leadership meeting
just 2 weeks ago, the President turned to me as he did others and
said, Mr. Chairman, what do you think? I said, Mr. President, I
will be with you as long asand I laid out two things, and the end-
ing thing was, Mr. President, you tell the people of America forth-
rightly that we will have to stay, that American forces will be in
place for some period of time, and that the cost will be significant,
and he looked at me, and he said, I will, so I am confident he
will do it.
I am just uneasy about the way we are going about this now, be-
cause we may end up right where Bud McFarlane does not want
us to end up, and anybody from the Gulf of Tonkin days on and
the Vietnam generation does not want us to end up, and that is
a mixed message to the American people about what we are com-
mitting them to.
I am sorry for that editorial interjection, but in part to try to ex-
plain to the people who may be listening to this why there is some
confusion. There is not here an unwillingness to cooperate with the
President. There is a desire to cooperate, but I think we have to
get the lines a little clearer.
I yield to my friend from California, Senator Boxer.
Senator BOXER. Thank you, Senator Biden, Senator Helms.
Thank you for this hearing.
I just want to say, Senator Lugar, there is no more important
time for Nunn-Lugar than now, and anything that I can do to help
you, I stand ready to do that.
Mr. Chairman, as a Member of Congress for 20 years I want to
put my questions into some perspective and put my values out
there as a United States Senator, and as a mother and a grand-
mother.
Mr. Chairman, I voted to go to war twice in recent years, once
and you had tremendous leadership on thisto stop a genocide
under Milosevic, with a Democratic President, and after 9/11 to
give this President the power to respond in any way necessary to
conduct a war against these terrorists. Having said that, I want to
say two things about how I view war.
One, I view war as a last resort, not as a first resort, and second,
I believe that any President who is asking us to go to war lay out
a path for peace or a way to avoid war, and I have to say in this
particular circumstance, at this point, I do not sense that this
President used this war as a last resort because he has not really
laid out a path for peace. I have served with four Presidents now,
and I have not seen this before but I do see it now.
And with that, I want to ask some questions and make a couple
more comments. Mr. Ambassador, when you opened your testimony
you said, the prolonged reluctance of this administration to con-
sult adequately with either the Congress or the United Nations Se-
curity Council was a costly, self-inflicted mistake. During a long
and confused summer, an impression of disarray was left with the
world . . ..
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Well, I want to say something here that is not easy to say, but
I do not think that was a mistake. I think that was a plan, and
all you have to do is see the comments of Andrew Card, who said,
we do not roll out a new product during the summer, and I ask
unanimous consent to place into the record the exact words of An-
drew Card on that point.
[The information referred to follows:]
The following is from an article in the New York Times, of September 14, 2002,
entitled Never Forget What? by Frank Rich.
Candor is so little prized in Washington that you want to shake the hand
of anyone who dares commit it. So cheers to Andrew Card, the presidents
chief of staff, for telling the Timess Elisabeth Bumiller the real reason that
his boss withheld his full-frontal move on Saddam Hussein until Sep-
tember. From a marketing point of view, you dont introduce new products
in August.
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No
Favor Oppose Opinion
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There is something that does not quite fit with that kind of re-
sponse. I do not know if your nose is up against the window, but
the fact is, this is about as serious an issues as the Congress will
ever debate. My question to you, Mr. Chairman, and maybe you
could give us some sense of this, what was the procedure in 1991
when that resolution was passed? Did this committee have a role,
or was it bypassed like this committee is being bypassed today?
The CHAIRMAN. And again, this is not against the Senators time
for questions. When I go back and refresh my recollection, exactly
what the sequence was, but there were three important points.
One, initially Kuwait was invaded in August. The President as-
serted he did not need congressional authority, and his Attorney
General, who is actually a good friend and has helped me teach a
couple of my classes, asserted that the war clause only was put
there for the Congress to be able to declare war if the President
did not, and that was literally asserted by the White House.
And then I, along with several others, probably Senator Lugar,
I do not recall, insisted that that issue be litigated before the com-
mittee, of the requirement, and we had constitutional scholar after
scholar come and testify in open hearing saying the President must
submit a resolution seeking approval.
We solicited that resolution, and then President Bush did what
I thought, quite frankly, was a very wise thing, and that is, he
said, I do not want you to vote on this in the midst of congressional
elections. He said, this should be put over until the congressional
elections are over, even though it was more urgent then, in that
there was a country invaded and occupied, and we had 250,000
troops amassing on the ground. He still said, I guess because of his
experience as a combat veteran he still said, we should not vote
now.
And then we came backwe came back in January and voted
after the election, and I cannot say to my friend with certainty
whether or not the resolution of the President ultimately submitted
in that interim period was once again before the committee or not.
I do not recall. Maybe my friend from Indiana does.
But the point is, there was considerable debate, because we did
not vote in a highly charged electoral circumstance, but that was
the sequencing.
Senator HAGEL. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate that, and it may
well be that we go back and examine that record as to how it was
done in 1990 and 1991, especially in light of the fact that we are
a few weeks away from an election, and this deserves the kind of
thoughtful time and debate that I think the American public de-
serve and, quite frankly, the world deserves.
I am also astounded that those who know most about those
issues, the ranking members of the Armed Services Committee, the
Foreign Relations Committee, the Intelligence Committeesome
are with us todayare not part of the process in writing or draft-
ing or amending a resolution, and I would hope that whenever that
resolution is taken up in the House and the Senate, that it will be
the Members, the senior Members of this committee that will lead
that floor debate, that will manage that bill.
Now, with that said, Mr. Chairman, I want to ask a question of
Ambassador Holbrooke. In his testimony he cites, I believe on page
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been in refugee camps everywhere, I have been shot at, the whole
works.
The reason we have to contemplate it, in my view, although I
agree with Senator Boxer, as a last resort, is that he will be more
dangerous in the future. In 3 to 5 years he will be more powerful,
and I do not agree that nothing has happened to bring it to a crisis.
Why it is happening at exactly now, September of 2002, is a sepa-
rate issue, but he has had 12 years in which he has done every-
thing he canhe has made himself an international outlaw, essen-
tially.
If there is a state in defiance of the world system, the U.N. Secu-
rity Council, which everyone in this room has talked positively
about, it is Saddam and the Iraqis.
Senator CHAFEE. I do take exception to the definitive aspect that
he will be more of a threat in 5 years. That is debatable. Fidel Cas-
tro, you might have said he will be more of a threat if left un-
touched, and here, years later, he is not more of a threat, so that
is a debatable point. I do not take that as an absolute.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you want to respond, Mr. McFarlane?
Mr. MCFARLANE. Please, Mr. Chairman. I do not think any of us
can give you certainties on almost anything regarding Saddam
Hussein. I would like to recall, however, Senator Lugars comment
about the plausible risks and the stated ambitions that we have
heard from Saddam Hussein.
Nuclear materials are poorly guarded in much of the former So-
viet Union. Thanks to Senator Lugar and Senator Nunn, the pro-
gram that was so well begun and is continuing has to be sustained
and, unless it is, the plausibility of nuclear materials being mis-
directed, stolen, purchased, or whatever, cannot be denied, and the
existence of a nuclear program in Iraq, which is a matter of fact
under the United Kingdoms report, issued yesterday, gives us just
cause in guarding against the growth of that program.
The CHAIRMAN. Let me, before I yield to Senator Rockefeller,
make a point that I think is a distinction with a difference. I think
we miss the boat when we are talking about Iraq. Iraq violated
international norms, invaded another country, essentially sued for
peace, essentially signed an armistice, the conditions of which were
contained in the U.N. resolutions, and has clearly violated those
resolutions. Whether or not they are a threat or not, they violated
those resolutions.
I hope we stop talking about preemption. This is not preemption.
Maybe we should or should not go to Iraq, and I have an open
mind about that, but it is fundamentally different than invading a
similar country in terms of seeking weapons of mass destruction,
acted against their own people, not to the same extent, like Iran,
or North Korea. They are not in the same situation. Iraq signed es-
sentially a peace agreement with conditions. The conditions are
contained in U.N. resolutions. They have violated them on their
face. That is a fundamentally different thing.
I wish the President and everyone else would stop talking about
preemption and give people around the world the sense that we are
acting like cowboys, and/or they have a right to act preemptively.
This is a different deal.
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business. I believe you initiated that phrase for NATO, and you
and I have been allies on that.
The ISAF should have been outside of Kabul, and the funda-
mental mistake that was made in Afghanistan was that while we
proclaimed support for Karzai we strengthened the war lords, who
are also drug lords, and whose strength is incompatible with any
kind of affective central government, even a loose one in a loose
federation, and you talked to Karzai when he was here about this.
He minimizes the problem when he talks to us because he does
not want to play into the hands of the critics of the administration
that supported him, but he knows it is a problem, and you and I
both talked to him privately, and I agree with what Bud McFar-
lane said, and if they are beginning to realize that they should
have done it differently in Afghanistan, if they are beginning to re-
alize that Bosnia is not the place that they should pull out of, as
they wanted to a year and a half ago, then I hope those lessons
will be applied to Iraq, if and when the time comes.
The CHAIRMAN. Nation-building aint a dirty word, but that is
what we are talking about, nation-building.
I understand you have to go.
Senator Lugar.
Senator LUGAR. I would just thank the Ambassador, but I wish
that he would leave if he needs to at this point, and I will raise
my questions afterwards.
Ambassador HOLBROOKE. Thank you, Senator Lugar, and before
I leave, I did not express my own views on Nunn-Lugar because
it would only be repetitive, but we need it more than ever, and
your leadership has been extraordinary on that. Thank you.
Senator LUGAR. Mr. Chairman, let me just say for the record
that the quote, out of area, out of business, came from somewhere
else. I did not originate it, although I have utilized it. I think it
was accurate, and I appreciate the fact that NATO has moved in
that way. I would just underline what you and Ambassador
Holbrooke have pointed out, that we did try to emphasize NATO
in Afghanistan because it offered a structure.
If Lord Robertson was able to assign countries so there is not a
pick-up game every 3 months as to who might volunteer, and they
would be prepared to do that. Lord Robertson came here to the
United States and made those comments. Now, hopefully that may
offer some structure, but something is needed there.
Likewise, I just want to make a point once again for the record
that President Bush has been commended for recommending that
it be postponed until after the election. He did that, but the argu-
ment at that meeting was that there would be new Members seat-
ed in the new Congress, so as a result the old Members ought not
to be voting in late November or December, because hearings were
to be held. The chairman pointed out in his memo this committee
met in December, as in Armed Services, but still there was resist-
ance all the way through by the administration having to vote.
And I can recall going to the White House with people who were
arguing that the President should simply use the war powers reso-
lution. In other words President Bush should just proceed, then
after the requisite 30 or 90 days or so, if it had not worked out,
come back and ask for something at that point.
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world if we can, but if we cannot get any of that, and our national
interests are still at stake, we must respond.
And so the question is to me, how do we get to the point where
we limit the downside as much as we can, and increase the possible
upside as much as we can, and that is what this is about right
now. I hope no one listening to this in a foreign government or
overseas thinks this reflects any fundamental disagreement about
Saddam, but it does reflect the natural and necessary impulses of
a democracy, to be able to determine what we are about to do and
make sure all are signing on to the same deal.
My dad, who just passed away, used to say, I like to know who
is responsible so I know who to hold accountable. Well, I think the
American people have a right to know what we have in mind before
we ask them to sign on, and I thank you, Mr. McFarlane, for being
here. You have great experience. I thank Ambassador Holbrooke.
Tomorrow, again, we haveunfortunately former Secretary of
State Eagleburger was to testify but he is ill, not seriously ill, but
he is unable to be here. There are no alarm bells. He just has the
flu, or something to that effect and is not able to be here tomorrow.
Our witness list will be made up of former Secretary Albright,
former Secretary Kissinger, as well as the present Secretary of
State, Colin Powell.
I do not intend that these, with the permission of my Republican
colleagues as well, to be the last hearings we are going to have on
this, but I do think it is important to have the three Secretaries
of State tomorrow, and I will pursue with Senator Lugar his sug-
gestion that this committee at least have an opportunity to de-
batenot debate, but to have hearings on whatever resolution we
are going to be considering.
And I am not suggesting that we should not be able to be dis-
charged if we are unable to reach any conclusion. It is not meant
to be in any way an attempt to hold anything up, and I further
would suggest that the purpose of committees is to allow all of our
colleagues the benefit of having done some serious spade work be-
fore we vote on important subjects. It seems to me to be the respon-
sibility of this committee to do that. I will attempt to work with
my colleague to do that.
Senator LUGAR. Mr. Chairman, may I make one more, I hope
diplomatic comment, and that is, essentially all of us today, what-
ever we have thought of past administrations or this one, are really
trying to ask questions in which we hope that there is planning
going on in our administration now on these critical issues. We
may not have been informed of it.
But on these questions of the numbers of people required in Iraq,
or the thoughtfulness about the Sunnis and the Shiites and the im-
plications of Iran and other countries, there are a lot of very bright
people in America, a good number of them I am sure in the admin-
istration. The question is, has there been a focus, and if so, I think
we would appreciate in this committee some sharing of that.
Now, some of it may be highly classified, or even the fact that
people are thinking about it is classified, but at some point, histori-
cally, the American people are going to ask of us, where were you
when all of this went on, did you raise these questions, and we
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would say, we just did not think of that, we were fastened on some-
thing else.
I think the committee hearing today, aided by our two witnesses,
did think of a number of things, and both of us and others have
indicated we are using this forum almost to send messages, and
please, to do things.
I would just like to say, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the spirit
with which you have approached this hearing, as well as others.
Sort of clamoring outside of the committee room are many who
want comments as to whether the whole Iraq issue has become vi-
ciously partisan, and so forth. The fact is that it could be, but it
should not.
The chairman is a candidate for reelection this year. Fortunately,
I am not, so I have the comfort zone at least of that situation to
say that I understand. People who are involved in election cam-
paigns, reading the analysis every day, does Iraq supplant every
other issue, or something of this variety, may be tempted to get
into some other analysis, but thank goodness, that was not the case
here, so I thank the chairman, and I think the bipartisanship and
the nonpartisanship really with regard to this issue has been very
important, and that was true of our first two hearings, it was true
of this one, and it is important in terms of our own credibility, be-
cause we are raising these questions with our administration as
well as the rest of the world.
If we do so from a degree of unity, why, obviously it is highly,
much more effective, so I thank the chairman.
The CHAIRMAN. We often kid about this, but it probably hurts us
both that at least you and Inot least, you and I have been almost
completely unified in this endeavor, as has Senator Hagel and, I
might add, if you notice way down the other end there in terms of
seniority is the Senator from Florida who has, to the best of my
knowledge, stayed for every last drop of every hearing.
We are not attempting to be self-congratulatory. We are trying
to send a simple message. This committee, this Congress, the peo-
ple who have primary responsibility in this Congress for at least
presenting this debate are unified and are trying to help, not be ob-
structionist. We are trying to help the President in resolving a very
difficult situation.
We all knowI have been here for almost 30 years, this Senator
has been here 28 years, if I am not mistaken.
Senator LUGAR. Twenty-six.
The CHAIRMAN. We have been around a long time We understand
that no President is ever in a position where he has 100 percent
of the information he needs to make a decision. We understand
that.
The only thing we want to know is that he has thought through,
the administration has thought through, even if the answers are
not available, has raised all the pertinent issues, becauseI keep
saying how the American public has to be informed. I want to be
informed. I want to be informed before I vote on these things.
Again, I thank you all. Bud, thank you for sitting through our
little dialog here, our conversation among ourselves. You are very
gracious to do that.
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NEXT STEPS IN IRAQ
U.S. SENATE,
COMMITTEE
FOREIGN RELATIONS,
ON
Washington, DC.
The committee met at 10:35 a.m., in room SD419, Dirksen Sen-
ate Office Building, Hon. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (chairman of the
committee), presiding.
Present: Senators Biden, Sarbanes, Feingold, Wellstone, Boxer,
Bill Nelson, Helms, Lugar, Hagel, Frist, Chafee, Allen, and
Brownback.
The CHAIRMAN. The hearing will please come to order.
Starting in July, the committee has held a series of hearings on
U.S. policy toward Iraq, and we have heard from a broad range of
experts and witnesses, former senior officials on the basic questions
before the country, which is, what threat does Iraq pose to the
United States? What are our possible responses? How do our allies
around the world and our friends in the region see the problem?
What would be our responsibilities the day after? What is the goal
that we have here?
I think the President is dead right about the danger of Saddam
Hussein. The witnesses and my colleagues are tired of hearing me
say this. I think no matter how well formulated a foreign policy,
it will not be sustained very long without the informed consent of
the American people.
So one of the questions I have been asking is, at what point, if
it gets to this that we take down Saddam, do the Secretary of De-
fense and the Secretary of State turn to the President and say, we
are done here, Mr. President? We have met our goals and we can
go home. I think we should be talking about that.
This morning we continue our inquiry with two Americans who
have had an extraordinary impact on our countrys foreign policy
and security problems: former Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright, and former Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger. This
committee has heard from them on many occasions in the past and
I am pleased to welcome them both here again to help us work
through a difficult challenge posed by Iraq.
This afternoon we are going to hear from the current Secretary
of State, Colin Powell, and I will have a lengthier statement at that
time.
For now, let me simply welcome our two witnesses and tell them
how pleased we are they are here for this important process and
yield to my very good friend from North Carolina, Senator Helms.
Senator HELMS. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.
(51)
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You have rung the bell this morning by bringing these two lead-
ers here this morning. I join in welcoming them here. If I had been
a little closer, I would have hugged you, but it is hard to do it with
a barricade like that.
We could not have, I think, two finer examples of naturalized
citizens. I have thought about that a lot. They are a tribute to the
opportunities offered by our country to all citizens. And certainly
I join you and the rest of the committee in welcoming both of them.
An international consensus to rid the world once and for all of
Saddam Hussein is developing, I think, and the Presidents speech
to the General Assembly of the United Nations 2 weeks ago pre-
sented the clearest possible case for action against the Iraqi regime
of Hussein.
Tony Blair. My affection for that guy just keeps increasing be-
cause he has really stuck with us in thick and thin. His speech and
his report to the British Parliament also laid the case out clearly
and succinctly.
Yesterday Ambassador Holbrooke sat where you are sitting this
morning, maam. He called Turkey our indispensable NATO ally. I
could not agree more, and that countrys assistance is noteworthy.
The Washington Post reported last week that Qatar and Jordan
and Saudi Arabia are coming around, even at the expense of criti-
cism and possiblepossibleunrest within their jurisdictions.
In any case, it is certainly good to see you here this morning, and
all of us will be interested in your assessment of the further steps
we can take to solidify the key support of our key allies. And I
thank you for being here, both of you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much.
Let me suggest to our witnesses something that we do not often
suggest. I am not asking you to be limited by time. This is such
an important issue. I mean this sincerely. We have two incredibly
knowledgeable people and we will benefit from whatever time you
think is necessary for you to make the points that you make. So
I am going to ask the staff not to turn on the timer light and apolo-
gize to my colleagues. I do not expect that the witnesses will take
an inordinate amount of time, but your statements are so impor-
tant I do not want you to feel rushed to say I am summarizing my
statement in 3 minutes or 5 minutes and move from there, unless
that is what you prefer to do. I just want you to know we are anx-
ious, truly anxious, to hear from you both.
Only in order of recent occupants of the chair, I would yield first
to Secretary of State Albright and then to Dr. Kissinger and then
we will move to questions, if that is appropriate and all right with
my colleagues.
Senator HELMS. Good.
The CHAIRMAN. Secretary Albright.
STATEMENT OF HON. MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT, FORMER SEC-
RETARY OF STATE, CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC IN-
STITUTE, WASHINGTON, DC
Secretary ALBRIGHT. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much, and
Senator Helms, thank you for your kind comments. It is very nice
to see you.
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I will not take more advantage of your time and hope very much
that a lot of the issues that we have will come up in questions. I
am very, very pleased now to turn the floor over to my good friend,
Secretary Kissinger. I am sure that he agrees heartily with every-
thing I have said.
[The prepared statement of Secretary Albright follows:]
PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT, FORMER SECRETARY OF
STATE
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, I am delighted to be here. This Com-
mittee is like a second home, and it is a special honor to be accompanied by my
very distinguished predecessor and friend, Secretary Kissinger.
Mr. Chairman, the Presidents speech to the UN two weeks ago paralleled many
of the statements I made when serving as UN Ambassador and Secretary of State.
The details of Saddams noncompliance with Security Council resolutions were not
new. Nor was the Presidents challenge for the Council to respond firmly or face the
likelihood of a forceful American response.
The difference now is that weapons inspectors have been absent from Iraq for al-
most four years. The risk that Saddam Hussein will succeed in reconstituting deliv-
erable weapons of mass destruction has increased. It is in the interests not only of
the United States, but also of the entire international community to act.
So I strongly support the Administrations decision to back the return of UN in-
spectors to Iraq. The path of inspections is all too familiar, but it is worth traveling
one last time. If the Iraqis break their promise, the case for military action will be
stronger. If they keep it, the UN inspection and monitoring regime will resume, and
that is good. Before the inspectors were kicked out, they had destroyed more weap-
ons of mass destruction capacity than the Gulf War. Unfettered inspections and
monitoring will make it far harder for Iraq to continue developing advanced arms.
So we must be willing to take yes for an answer. But we must also be prepared
for a negative response.
The President has asked Congress for the authority to use all means necessary
to enforce Iraqs compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions, the most impor-
tant of which requires Baghdad to destroy its weapons of mass destruction and
longer-range missile programs.
The President should have this authority, and members of the Security Council
should join us in the enforcement effort. I refer particularly to permanent Council
Members France, Russia and China. These are the countries that most vigorously
promote the Councils prerogatives. They should be the countries most determined
to see that its Resolutions are enforced.
If Saddam continues to behave like Saddam, we have legitimate grounds for act-
ing on behalf of the Security Council to bring Iraq into compliance. This answers
the question of why a confrontation might be necessary. As President Clinton said
almost four years ago, the Iraqi leader threatens the security of the world, and
the best way to end that threat once and for all is with a new Iraqi government.
This does not, however, answer two other questions. The first is how and the
second is when.
The question of how has two parts. One is military, which I will leave to my
friends in uniform. The other is the problem of planning for the post-Saddam era.
This is complicated because we could be confronted with a no-win choice. One option
might be a prolonged U.S. military occupation of the country that served as the cul-
tural capital of Islam during that civilizations Golden Age. This would hand a new
organizing tool to anti-American terrorists worldwide.
The other option is to withdraw promptly and risk plunging the country into fac-
tionalism and civil war. It is naive to think that a peaceful and democratic Iraq will
automatically emerge from the ashes of our invasion. It is crazy to believe we can
run post-war Iraq alone. And it is essential that the Administration think the con-
sequences of all this through in advance, which it has not yet done. One thing is
certain. We may be able to win a war against Iraq without a broad coalition. But
there is no way we can win the peace without help from many others.
As for when to confront Iraq, the answer should be at a time of our own choos-
ing. In making that choice, several factors should be borne in mind.
As evil as Saddam Hussein is, he is not the reason anti-aircraft guns ring this
city, a Department of Homeland Defense is being created, and the phrases ground
zero, Lets roll and 9-1-1 have acquired new meanings.
Saddam Hussein remains the enemy we know. Since the administration of former
President George H.W. Bush, each time Mr. Hussein has pushed, we have pushed
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back. Today, American and British planes enforce no-flight zones over 40 percent
of his country and a maritime force prevents weapons from reaching Iraq by sea.
Saddam Husseins military is far weaker than it was a decade ago. And he knows
that he will be obliterated if he ever tries to attack another country again. As a rule,
people who build statues to themselves are not suicidal.
The more urgent threat remains Al-Qaeda and related groups, because deterrence
is ineffective against those who embrace death. More than a year after September
11, only a handful of Al-Qaedas top leaders have been eliminated. Its funding
sources have not dried up. Terrorist attacks continue to take place. And Al-Qaeda
members are reportedly filtering back into Afghanistan where thousands of Taliban
hide in plain sight, and the international community has failed to establish a mean-
ingful security presence outside Kabul.
Defeating Al-Qaeda is not a part time job. We will need the sustained help of gov-
ernments everywhere, and especially in the Islamic world. And we must make an
undivided commitment of our own military power, diplomatic capital, intelligence
and law enforcement resources.
This is not the time or place for short attention spans. The fight against Al-Qaeda
must remain our top priority.
In his Memoirs, former Secretary of State Acheson wrote that it is sometimes nec-
essary to over-dramatize a threat in order to arouse public support. This Adminis-
tration is now doing just that by trying to claim September 11 as a primary reason
to go to war against Iraq. Officials say that September 11 created a new reality,
which is that terrorists might be able to obtain weapons of mass destruction. That
is, of course, a realitybut hardly a new one. And there are perhaps half a dozen
other countries that are thought to have weapons of mass destruction programs and
links to terrorism that are at least as extensive as Iraqs.
Certainly, the danger is real, but eliminating Saddam will not eliminate the
threat, and might even make it worse if anti-American extremists elsewhere are
strengthened by an assault on Baghdad.
Unlike the Gulf War, which was paid for largely by others, a war with Iraq will
be paid for by us, and could cost anywhere from sixty to two hundred billion dollars
in direct costs, not to mention what the mere prospect of war is doing to our econ-
omy. Congress should consider whether our country would be more secure using
those funds to intensify the pursuit of Al-Qaeda, secure Russias nuclear arsenal,
strengthen homeland defense, improve public diplomacy, and transform Afghanistan
into a permanent terrorist-free zone.
As I said, there is a valid case for using force against Iraq, if that is needed to
ensure disarmament under UN Security Council Resolutions. But timing matters.
At a minimum, the Administration still needs to develop a coalition, strengthen
Iraqi opposition groups, fine-tune military planning, develop a coherent blueprint for
the post-Saddam era, and identify the resources required to fund the war. It must
also conduct diplomacy aimed at cooling tensions in the Middle East, and make cer-
tain that war with Iraq does not result in attacks against Israel and a broader re-
gional conflict.
To buy this time, we should give notice that if UN inspectors are again rebuffed
by Iraq, we will destroy without warning any facilities in that country we believe
are being used to develop prohibited arms. Even if those suspicions prove wrong,
the blame should fall on Iraq for denying access, not on America for enforcing the
Security Councils will.
Mr. Chairman, in closing, let me say that I expect Congress to authorize the
President to use force against Iraq. I hope, however, that Senators will continue to
exercise their patriotic duty to ask hard questions. And that the language of the
Resolution will be drawn more narrowly than the Administrations draft, which in-
cludes an authorization of force unrelated to any specific countries, threats, Amer-
ican interests or periods of time.
I also hope it will not be necessary to use the authority in question. America must
respond firmly to Saddam Hussein and it may be necessary to wage war to remove
him. But I do not share the irrational exuberance for this conflict that is present
among some pundits and perhaps even a few Administration officials. That enthu-
siasm is not shared by many in our military or among professional diplomats. It is
not an American trait to want war. And it is not a sign of sound leadership to un-
derstate the risks of war, or to offer constantly shifting rationalesas this Adminis-
tration hasfor undertaking such a venture.
I also question the Administrations wisdom in publicly adding new and ostenta-
tiously hegemonic language to our national security strategy. This document brags
unnecessarily about American strength, and gives ammunition to those who accuse
us of pursuing our interests without regard to international norms.
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More than 200 years ago, when the British Empire was at its height, Edmund
Burke wrote, I dread our own power and our own ambition; I dread our being too
much dreaded . . . We may say that we shall not abuse this astonishing and hitherto
unheard of power. But every other nation will think we shall abuse it. Sooner or
later, this must produce a combination against us which may end in our ruin.
Mr. Chairman, there is a gathering danger that America will be perceived as a
nation uninterested in the concerns of others at the precise moment we most need
global cooperation to fight terrorism, proliferation and menacing dictators such as
Saddam Hussein.
We must, therefore, be strong but also smart in articulating the why, planning
the how, and choosing the when of actions directed against Iraq and other chal-
lenges we face. And we must be clear not only about what America is against, but
also about what America is for. We are against terrorism and Saddam Hussein; that
is a given. But we are for democracy and development, the rule of law and respect
for human rights. These priorities must not be lost amidst the sound and fury of
the present debate.
Thank you for your attention. I will be pleased to respond to any questions you
may have.
The CHAIRMAN. Dr. Kissinger, you are probably the single most
listened-to voice in the last 30 years in American foreign policy. It
is an honor to have you here and it is a pleasure. It is almost 30
years to the day since the first time I met you at a similar hearing.
At least we have now got each others names straight. It is a long
story. But at any rate, welcome, Dr. Kissinger, Mr. Secretary.
Happy to have you here.
STATEMENT OF HON. HENRY A. KISSINGER, FORMER SEC-
RETARY OF STATE, CEO, KISSINGER ASSOCIATES, INC., NEW
YORK, NY
Secretary KISSINGER. Mr. Chairman and members of the com-
mittee, good morning. Like Madeleine, I would like to express my
pleasure at being here. I have the recollections of many meetings
in this room, of the different chairmen and of the issues that have
deeply affected our country.
Madeleine and I have been friends for decades and we have dis-
cussed these problems between uswhen we were in office, when
one of us was in office and when both of us were out of office. And
as she pointed out, we share the experience of having had the great
good luck of finding refuge in this country and safety from totali-
tarianism. That then also created a very special sense of obligation
and concern for the role that America plays in the world.
The Senate and the Congress have been asked to express them-
selves on what action the United States should take to deal with
the threat being posed by the illegal stockpiles of weapons of mass
destruction in Iraq, and by their potential growth.
President Bush has reaffirmed Americas commitment to a coop-
erative world order by asking the United Nations to rectify Iraqs
defiance of a large number of United Nations resolutions man-
dating the destruction of these stockpiles, as well as Iraqs flagrant
breach of its pledge to do so as a condition for the suspension of
the gulf war in 1991. If, by fudging its response, the world commu-
nity opts to face the risk of an even greater threat in the future,
the issue becomes one of whether America and a coalition of the
like-minded should acquiesce to stockpiles of weapons of mass de-
struction in Iraq.
I do not believe that the issue of America acting alone will arise.
Whatever happens, a significant number of countries will support,
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ons of mass destruction on Israel and Saudi Arabia is a demonstration of how even
existing stockpiles of weapons turn into instruments of blackmail and self-deter-
rence. Procrastination is bound to magnify such possibilities.
The existence and, even more, the growth of stockpiles of weapons of mass de-
struction in Iraq poses a threat to international peace and stability. The issue is
not primarily whether Iraq was involved in the terrorist attack on the United
States. The challenge of Iraq is essentially geopolitical and psychological. Its policy
is implacably hostile to the United States, to neighboring countries, and to estab-
lished rules that govern relations among nations. It possesses growing stockpiles of
biological and chemical weapons, which Saddam Hussein has used in the war
against Iran and on his own population. Iraq is working again to develop a nuclear
capability. Saddam Hussein breached his commitment to the United Nations by pre-
venting the operation of the international inspection system he had accepted on his
territory as part of the armistice agreement ending the Gulf War. There is no possi-
bility of a direct negotiation between Washington and Baghdad and no basis for
trusting Iraqs promises to the international community. By what reasoning can the
world communityor Americaacquiesce in this state of affairs?
If these capabilities remain intact, they will become an instrumentactual and
symbolicfor the destabilization of a volatile region. And if Saddam Husseins re-
gime survives both the Gulf War and the anti-terrorism campaign, this fact alone
will compound the existing terrorist menace.
By its defiance of the U.N. Security Council resolutions requiring it to give up
weapons of mass destruction, Iraq has in effect asserted the determination to pos-
sess weapons whose very existence compounds the terrorist threat immeasurably.
Global terrorism cannot flourish except with the support of states that either sym-
pathize or acquiesce in its actions. To the extent that these countries observe the
flouting of U.N. resolutions, the weakening of international norms, and the defiance
of America, they feel less restrained in acquiescing in or ignoring terrorist activities.
For the nations of the world to accept the existence of growing stockpiles of weapons
of mass destruction where the new form of terrorism has been spawned is to under-
mine restraint with respect not only to weapons proliferation but to the psycho-
logical impulse toward terrorism altogether.
The campaign in Afghanistan was an important first step. But if it remains the
principal move in the war against terrorism, it runs the risk of petering out into
an intelligence operation while the rest of the region gradually slides back to the
pre-9/11 pattern, with radicals encouraged by the demonstration of the worlds hesi-
tation and moderates demoralized by the continuation of an unimpaired Iraq as an
aggressive regional power. In short, the continuation of illegal proliferation, the
global dangers which it involves, the rejection or infeasibility of a viable inspection
system, and the growth of terrorism require action, preferably global, but as an ulti-
mate resort of Americas, together with those countries prepared to support it.
It is argued that dealing with weapons of mass destruction in Iraq weakens the
war against terrorism. The opposite is more likely to be true. Eliminating such
weapons in Iraq is an important aspect of the second phase of the anti-terrorism
campaign. It demonstrates American determination to get at the root causes and
some of the ultimate capabilities of what is, in essence, a crusade against free val-
ues. Enforcing U.N. resolutions in Iraq does not compete with the capabilities need-
ed to pursue the second phase of the anti-terrorism campaign. In all likelihood, such
action will strengthen it by additional deployments to the region.
Nor should it weaken the cooperation of other countries in the anti-terror cam-
paign. Assisting in this effort is not a favor other countries do for the United States
but ultimately for themselves. And what exactly will they decline to support without
risking their entire relationship to the United States? The fight against terrorism
will take many years. To wait for its end before acting is to guarantee that stock-
piles of weapons of mass destruction multiply.
At the same time, while reserving the option to act in concert with only the na-
tions it can convince, the United States is wise to appeal to cooperative action of
the world community. As the most powerful nation in the world, the United States
has a special unilateral capacity and, indeed, obligation to lead in implementing its
convictions. But it also has a special obligation to justify its actions by principles
that transcend the assertions of preponderant power. It cannot be in either the
American national interest or the worlds interest to develop principles that grant
every nation an unfettered right of preemption against its own definition of threats
to its security. The case for enforcement of established resolutions should be the
opening move in a serious effort of consultation to develop fundamental principles
that other nations can consider in the general interest.
The United Nations is therefore challenged to come up with a control system that
eliminates existing weapons of mass destruction in Iraqtogether with procedures
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to prevent their being rebuilt. The control system must go far beyond the inspection
system negated by Saddam Husseins evasions and violations. It must prevent any
possibility for local authorities to harass informants or to impede free access to the
inspectors. It should be backed by standby authority and perhaps a standby force
to remove any obstacle to transparency. Moreover, any system of inspection must
be measured against the decline in vigilance that accompanied the previously flawed
systems operation. Nor can it be achieved at the price of lifting sanctions while Sad-
dam Hussein stays in office. For that would provide the Iraqi regime with the
means of rearmament as a reward for ending its violations. Indeed, the rigorous
measures required to implement the U.N.s own resolutions are almost surely in-
compatible with Husseins continuation in power.
In the end, enforcement of U.N. resolutions should be coupled with a program of
reconstruction for Iraq. Because of the precedent-setting nature of this war, its out-
come will determine the way U.S. actions will ultimately be viewed. And we may
find more nations willing to cooperate in reconstruction than in enforcement, if only
because no country wants to see an exclusive position for America in a region so
central to international political and economic stability.
Reconstruction will require dealing with how to preserve the unity and ensure the
territorial integrity of a country that is an essential component of any Gulf equi-
librium. A federal system to enable the Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish ethnic groups
of Iraq to live together without domination by one of them is surely appropriate.
But any serious planning would have to consider the means to prevent autonomy
from turning to independence, which, in the case of the Kurds, would put Turkish
support for the military phase at risk. And all this would have to take place in the
context of a government capable of resisting pressures from the remnants of the old
regime or from neighboring countries determined to destabilize the emerging sys-
tem.
The United States has put forward a reasoned definition of the dangers: the pos-
session of weapons of mass destruction by governments that have demonstrated
their willingness to use them, have professed hostility toward America or its allies,
and are not restrained by domestic institutions. Can the world community reject
that definition of the danger?
However the issue of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is resolved, the longer-
range goal must be to devise a system for dealing with new attempts by additional
countries to acquire weapons of mass destruction or biological and chemical weap-
ons. We are only at the beginning of the threat of global proliferation. The nations
of the world must face the impossibility of letting such a process run unchecked.
The United States would contribute much to a new international order if it invited
the rest of the world, and especially the major nuclear powers, to cooperate in cre-
ating a system to deal with this challenge to humanity on a more institutional basis.
Congress has an opportunity to vindicate a system of international order. I urge
you to give the President the authority to enforce the appropriate U.N. resolutions
together with the world community if at all possible, in concert with like-minded
nations if necessary.
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If I might just say this, when I sat at the United Nations, I used
to sit there and think, in my political science professor mode, that
this is the most fascinating thing in the world, that you actually
are talking about what is going on inside another country and that
you have the right to do that. That is a very different concept that
came into existence. And as Secretary Kissinger said, we are in a
very different phase where there are non-state actors and you have
to look at things in a different way. Nobody is denying the com-
plication of this.
But it seems to me, Mr. Chairman, that your suggestion makes
a great deal of sense. I also know that when I was at the U.N. and
as Secretary, it helps a lot when you have the power of Congress
behind you. It is a big plus in your pocket. So I think a resolution
I am not going to get into the wording of itmakes sense.
The CHAIRMAN. No, I am not either. Just conceptually.
Secretary ALBRIGHT. But the other thing I must say that bothers
me, if I might say this, I think we are loading too much onto this
issue. There are many people within or outside the administration
that had a different agenda from the very beginning, and I think
they are finding this, in some ways, a useful horse.
And I think the issue of preemption is a huge issue, and I would
definitely agree with Secretary Kissinger that it is worth dis-
cussing. It is a huge deal. It is a totally different way of operating.
It is one thing for self-defense, and I think that becomes a com-
plicated issue of how quickly do you move when you believe you are
being attacked. But I think to load this issue now with a major dis-
cussion of change in our whole strategic policy is a mistake, and
I think we need to deal with this issue as you have presented it,
and as I have heard the discussion. But we do not need to load it
with ideological issues that had nothing to do with this in the first
place.
The CHAIRMAN. Dr. Kissinger.
Secretary KISSINGER. When the President spoke at the General
Assembly, he did not base the case on a general doctrine of pre-
emption. He based the case on Iraqs violations of a whole series
of U.N. resolutions and agreements related to the gulf war.
The CHAIRMAN. I agree.
Secretary KISSINGER. Therefore, the issue of preemption is inher-
ent in the terrorist challenge because there you have non-state ac-
tors operating from the territory of states in pursuit of objectives
that go beyond national borders.
However, this is not an issue that needs to be settled theoreti-
cally now. To justify action against Iraq, it is sufficient to examine
the behavior of Iraq and the systematic violation of its under-
takings and of the U.N. resolutions.
Second, in order to establish a relationship between terrorism
and violations of U.N. resolutions on Iraq, it is not necessary to
demonstrate a specific connection between al-Qaeda and Iraq. It is
sufficient to point out that one of the motives of the terrorist
groups is to convey their belief that the will of the West and of the
United States is flagging and that they can assert their claims by
ruthless demonstration of power. And to the extent that a country
is surrounded by nations acquiescing to or helping terrorism explic-
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tion to us and can be brought along? Above all, the war against ter-
rorism will take many years. The decision one has to make is
whether to wait, permitting the growth of stockpiles for many more
years until one has to address the issue under quite different inter-
national circumstances.
Second, when nations help in the fight against terrorism, they
are not just helping us; they are helping themselves. Russia has a
major interest in not permitting fundamentalism to become a domi-
nant force in the Muslim world. The war against terrorism must
be conducted on the basis of its protagonists having common inter-
est, rather than looked at as if it were a special challenge to the
United States. To the extent that other nations believe in the im-
portance of a strong America, they will not stop cooperating with
us on something that is so much in their own interest, because
after all we are enforcing U.N. resolutions.
I do believe that we must go through a process that is now al-
ready underway and which will make clear what support we can
generate and what coalitions we can create. I am sure the Sec-
retary of State will talk about this in the afternoon.
Secretary ALBRIGHT. I think that I do not believe, nor did I say,
that the war on terrorism would have to be finished. First of all,
I think it will not be finished for a long time. It is unfortunately
what we have to live with for most of our lives and our childrens
lives. So there can be no termination to our effort on it.
But I think that we are in a crucial phase as far as finishing the
job in Afghanistan. Just to use an image here, I think that we do
have Saddam in a box, a strategic box. We do not know a lot about
it, but I have a feeling that if we blow up the box, that as the
sparks fly out, they will have an effect already on a region that is
inflamed and we cannot forget what is happening or not happening
in the Middle East.
So I actually think we are probably not as far apart as might
seem. It is a matter of timing and our favorite diplomatic word,
nuance, in terms of when we do things. I agree with Henry that
we cannot persuade other countries to think that fighting the war
on terrorism is only in our benefit. It has to be in their benefit also,
obviously.
But I think it is just unnecessary to do this this moment, and
what I am advocating is that we play out the U.N. string with the
support of Congress in the pocket of the President and the Ambas-
sador, and we will have a better chance of getting support by the
other countries if it is evident to everybody that the Iraqis stiffed
us. And that is where my timing comes in.
Senator HELMS. Do you have any further comment?
Secretary KISSINGER. It really is a question of whether we are
talking about a few months or a few years. The process, as it now
seems to evolve, seems to me to require some months of clarifica-
tion and that seems to me also perfectly consistent with what the
administration is doing and saying. So I do not think there is a
fundamental difference, if that is what we are talking about.
The CHAIRMAN. You are both talking about a few months, are
you not, as opposed to a few years?
Secretary KISSINGER. Then there is no difference.
Senator HELMS. What was your answer to his question?
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The CHAIRMAN. I said you are both talking about a few months,
and your response was, yes, if thats the case, there is no dif-
ference. Right? Is that correct?
Secretary KISSINGER. I am talking of a few months.
The CHAIRMAN. And I understand, Madam Secretary, you are
talking months, not years.
Secretary ALBRIGHT. Correct, but I think that we have to run out
the string.
The CHAIRMAN. No, I understand.
Secretary ALBRIGHT. And may I just say this. The inspectors
have to get in. They have to have a chance to work it, et cetera.
Secretary KISSINGER. May I say something about that?
The CHAIRMAN. Sure.
Secretary KISSINGER. I think that before inspectors go in, or as
inspectors go in, we require for ourselves some definition of what
is considered an adequate inspection system.
The CHAIRMAN. Absolutely.
Secretary KISSINGER. The previous inspection system was clearly
not workable. My understanding is that an inspection system needs
to have some assurance that its inspectors can talk to potential in-
formants without interference from local authorities. I do not know
how you bring this about, but those concerns need to be answered
since we know that the previous inspection system has not worked.
One must not permit the word inspection to be used as a subter-
fuge for endless procrastination. And inspections must be tied to a
system that gives major assurance that we will not see a repetition
of what we have been going through for the last 10 years.
Secretary ALBRIGHT. You have given us unusual leeway, and I do
not want to take advantage of it. But I think the timing also de-
pends on whether we hear from the administration what a day-
after plan looks like. It is the getting the inspectors in and going
through that string, but I think it is irresponsible to go in without
knowing a little bit more than at least I know about what their
plans are afterwards. So for me the timing depends a lot on the in-
formation that comes out on the U.N. string, and on what very de-
tailed plans arenot on the military side, because that is not my
job and never was, but more on the process of not leaving a vacu-
um there.
The CHAIRMAN. Senator Sarbanes.
Senator SARBANES. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Secretary Kissinger, is it your position the war against Iraq is
necessary and inevitable?
Secretary KISSINGER. My position is that military action to en-
force the U.N. resolutions is necessary if they cannot be imple-
mented any other way. And I think it is likely.
Senator SARBANES. Therefore, should we move to military action?
Secretary KISSINGER. We should not move to military action until
we have run out the string on the diplomatic process that is now
underway.
Senator SARBANES. Is there a peaceful path by which this matter
can be solved?
Secretary KISSINGER. I have difficulty visualizing how an inspec-
tion system can operate while Saddam Hussein is in unimpaired
power. It will certainly require some political changes in Iraq. But
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As we discussed on May 23, the Bush Administration regards the Future of Iraq
project as a key part of our Iraq regime change policy. We notified the appropria-
tions and authorization committees on March 21 and held consultations on this
project with you and your colleagues in April and May. In response to questions
from you and the SACFO, on May 21 we provided you a paper describing how we
proposed (1) to move forward now to fund Phases I and II of the project, in the
amount of $1.54 million out of the total $5 million for the project, and (2) not to
use the Middle East Institute but rather to bring management of the project inside
the State Department. We plan to carry out this project through small, grants to
policy NGOs and to a neutral conference-planning institute. We will consult with
authorizing and appropriations committees before we decide to move forward on
Phase III and beyond.
In particular, I want to address the three questions you posed. First, for the sub-
stantive work of the working groups, it is our intention to fund the work in Phases
I and II of the project through policy-oriented NGOs that have expertise in the sub-
ject matter of the working groups, are able to work effectively and credibly with
Iraqi and international experts, and have the organizational capacity and ability to
handle a grant of funds from the State Department. For example, among the charac-
teristics of an ideal NGO to help handle the Public Health and Humanitarian Needs
working group, in addition to these general criteria, would be an understanding of
the health care and humanitarian needs of Iraqis inside Iraq, a track record of de-
livering health care and humanitarian assistance to Iraqi refugees, knowledge of
how to administer public health programs, and familiarity with best practices in
health care and humanitarian aid delivery. (This working group will be a particular
challenge, as no one group is likely to have the same high level of expertise in both
public health and humanitarian needs, so we intend to try to find the best fit.) We
would prefer the substantive work to be done by NGOs led by free Iraqis, though
we recognize that for some of the working groups, there may not be an existing Iraq-
focused group with the necessary expertise and organizational capacity to admin-
ister a grant of USG funds. In such a case, we would look at universities, private
businesses, or non-Iraq-focused NGOs with (i) special expertise in the subject mat-
ter, (ii) the necessary organizational capacity, and (iii) the ability and willingness
to work with a broad range of free Iraqis.
Second, we intend to involve about 10-20 Iraqis in each working group. We have
canvassed the broadest possible range of Iraq-focused groups, both political an non-
political to solicit names, although we have made clear that the final determinant
will be the Department, subject to approval by an inter-agency steering group that
includes members from the Department of Defense, the National Security Council,
and the Office of the Vice President. To date, we have received hundreds of names
from Iraqi opposition groups and others. To narrow the lists, we will look to the in-
dividuals expertise in the subject matter of the working group, to the individuals
ability to contribute to practical problem-solving, and to their ability to work with
Iraqi, U.S. and international experts.
Finally, in response to your view that we should start a discussion of political
issues in Phase I of the project, we are bringing forward the working group on Polit-
ical Principles and Procedures to Phase I. We believe we can do this within the ex-
isting $1.54 million budget, though we may have to move forward our consultations
on Phase III by a couple of weeks to accommodate this change, or we may delay
one of the other working groups until Phase III.
We hope that this information will be sufficient to enable us to, go ahead with
the Future of Iraq project. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require fur-
ther information.
Sincerely,
RYAN C. CROCKER,
Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State for Near Eastern Affairs.
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would not support the overall goal. Saddam Husseins rule has
been brutally violent.
So I guess I would like to just assume, in terms of my questions,
that a military operation has been successful in toppling Saddam
Hussein, and I would like to see if we could get you to at least
speculate on a couple of specific points, following on Senator
Lugars question.
The Iraqi people have suffered terribly from years of deprivation.
Of course, they have been consistently told that it is American sup-
port for sanctions that is responsible for their plight.
If widespread civil conflict breaks out in the wake of military ac-
tion, a significant military presence, obviously, might be required
for some time, particularly given the reality of weapons of mass de-
struction in the country. What kind of reaction can we expect from
the Iraqi people if the United States moves to invade and then for
some period of time has to occupy the country? Secretary Albright?
Secretary ALBRIGHT. I have to tell you frankly we do not know
because we have been told that there are many people who would
welcome us with open arms on the assumption that they have lived
under the terrible boot of a dictator and that they know that he
is responsible for this and that the United States is not. But in our
lives I think we have all dealt with people who have been heavily
propagandized for a number of years, and they have, as you have
said, Senator, been basically told that the sanctions are the fault
of the United States. Some of them will definitely not be pleased
to see us there.
Plus, I think as I said in my testimony, Baghdad is a very special
place to the Islamic religion, and the question is how others would
react to a United States occupation of that country.
Then there is the whole issue of the divisions within Iraq itself.
I think we all need to ask these kinds of questions so that the
people at the State Department who are working on this know.
What would we do if a civil war developed in Iraq between the
Sunnis and the Shias, or what if the Kurds take a different posi-
tion vis-a-vis each other? They are not also totally united. So I
think these are the kinds of questions that have to go down.
But we cannot assume that this is like liberating central Europe
after Hitler. This is a different situation, and so we have to look
at that very carefully.
Senator FEINGOLD. Let me follow that. Then I want to hear Dr.
Kissingers remarks. Can you say anything more specifically about
what kind of threat conditions our U.S. soldiers might be facing for
months on end and what we could do to reduce the threat? I won-
der if you would follow with that, Secretary Albright.
Secretary ALBRIGHT. I think, again, this is something we do not
know because it depends if it is the Republican Guard or the people
that have been very close to Saddam Husseinif we are in Bagh-
dad with hand-to-hand fighting from block to block, I think there
would be a threat. And I think that the number of forces that will
have to stay there and should to protect our own forces as a result
of our own experiences in this, we would have to assume that there
would be a threat to our military. Whether it exists or not, we can-
not take the chance of sending them in without assuming that
there would be.
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that we then owe it to our people to take action. But all that is
missing. Those are the missing pieces.
And I must say that I think this is a remarkable discussion. I
think the fact that we are able to have these kinds of discussions
is what the American people need to hear because this is going to
be long-term and expensive. There are a lot of priorities that we
will have to set aside because of this. I am very concerned not just
about a unilateral foreign policy but a unidimensional foreign pol-
icy. We will suffer for that in the long run.
Senator WELLSTONE. Dr. Kissinger.
Secretary KISSINGER. Look back at the first gulf war, it is impor-
tant to understand its structure. It is indeed correct that the first
President Bush achieved an international consensus. It is also true
that he moved some 400,000 American troops into the region before
there was international consensus. For it was clear that we could
not march in and march out and that the implication of the Presi-
dents conduct was that, if we did not achieve international con-
sensus, we would operate with those nations that would support
us. I believe that one reason he received as much support as he did
was that he opted for a way by which other nations could influence
our actions and participate in them. So in principle, the difference
is not so great in the methods of the Bush family with respect to
the gulf and with which, I must say, I agree.
Second, in conducting these discussions, we have to keep in mind
that we do seem to agree that what we are talking about here is
timing. We are not talking about the principle. One has to take
care lest these discussions of the inspection system and of what
might happen are not used for endless procrastination. On the
other hand, we have to be serious in conducting them.
Senator WELLSTONE. Well, if I could say to me the two issues
that I feel like are staring me in the faceand I appreciate the an-
swer of both of youare, one, as a matter of public policy, are we
not going to make it the first priority to try to put into effect an
arms inspection regime that will work, unfettered access, and will
insist that these weapons of mass destruction are out? Is that the
first priority or not? I think some, frankly, do not think it is. They
have other priorities. And some think it is.
The second point I would make is it seems to me that we are in
an odd position right now because, on the one hand, we are saying
to the United Nations we want your support. On the other hand,
we are asked to vote on a resolution that gives the United Nations
the back of the hand and says regardless of what you do, we are
going in. And if we go in unilaterally, I would just say to the chair-
man again, I think that the consequences throughout the Near
East and South Asia, the consequences in the world that we live
in, and the consequences for our men and women that are there
in Iraq could be very serious.
I think we need to pay very special attention to that, the dif-
ference between unilateral, going alone, and having the support of
the international community. If it requires more diplomatic heavy
lifting, we ought to at least make every effort to do that first. That
would be my plea here today.
Secretary KISSINGER. If one looks at the discussion taking place
in the Security Council, it is interesting that none of the perma-
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nent members has threatened a veto. For they know that, by ab-
staining, if that is what they are indeed going to do, they will make
possible a resolution that will support our actionassuming we can
achieve nine votes. Britain will clearly be for us. And I am not sure
that France will abstain. But it is not necessary now to speculate
about what the individual countries may or may not do in a final
vote.
Second, as I pointed out before, I am convinced that, if military
action is taken, we will not be acting alone and that there will be
significant countries supporting the United States. None of this is
absolute, and one always has to keep focused on the alternatives.
But we all do seem to agree that we cannot acquiesce in the growth
of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, so what we are really talk-
ing about is the means for dealing with that problem.
The CHAIRMAN. Senator Allen.
Senator ALLEN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you both,
our esteemed witnesses today, for your insights and comments.
I think I speak for everyone on this committee that no one cares
to risk lives unnecessarily of the men and women in uniform. We
do not want war. It is not in our interest. However, when you think
of the priorities of the Federal Government and you say, gosh,
there are a lot of different concerns and priorities, the top responsi-
bility is national security. Unfortunately, we only have a theo-
retical unimpeded path to disarming Saddam Hussein.
I would say to Secretary Albright that we have had briefings,
and some of these briefings were of a highly classified nature. We
cannot necessarily publicly state every bit of intelligence, very cred-
ible intelligence, about the capabilities that Saddam has as far as
chemical and biological weapons and the means of delivering those.
One can be in a box and still deliver outside that box. Also, the con-
cern is that he may transfer some of that capability to terrorists.
I know, Madam Secretary, you were Secretary of State in 1998,
and I do not mean to get into legalistic matters. But in 1998, the
Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 71 with all the
Whereases and the Resolved clauses. In many ways, this resolution
is a furtherance of it. In fact, it is entitled a furtherance of the
1998 resolution. As Secretary of State, did you support this resolu-
tion, which urged the President to take all necessary and appro-
priate actions to respond to the threat posed by Iraqs refusal to
end its weapons of mass destruction programs?
Secretary ALBRIGHT. First of all, we did want them to end every-
thing in terms of their weapons of mass destruction. But the terms
of that resolution were somewhat different. They were more narrow
in terms of the scope for the President. My reading of it here is
that it was to bring Iraq into compliance with its international obli-
gations.
I think part of the problem with the current resolutionand
again, I do not think it is up to me as a private citizen to even
begin to think about how you draft that last paragraph, but I think
what is troubling to me as a private citizen is it sounds very much
like a carte blanche to do things within the entire region. I think
that is one of the questions and how much impact and activity the
Congress wants to have in this.
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The other one that we talked about, Public Law 105338 on Oc-
tober 31, added the section which I may be mistaken but I think
I was in the room and helped draft, which was section 8, rule of
construction, which says, nothing in this act shall be construed to
authorize or otherwise speak to the issue of United States armed
forces except as provided in section 4(a)(2) in carrying out this act.
And that was giving aid and assistance.
Senator SARBANES. To the opposition.
The CHAIRMAN. To the opposition.
Again, this is not a matter of argument. At least I am not trying.
Hopefully we can do what we have always done with these resolu-
tions, going all the way back to the gulf war or as recently as 9/
11. And that is, when we have got cooler heads, we sit down. We
have worked through it. Administrations have cooperated. We have
ended up with something we could all live with that gave the Presi-
dent the necessary authority needed to meet the limited objective
he stated. Hopefully that process is still underway and we will be
able to do that. I am anxious to work with the Senator to incor-
porate, to the degree he agrees with Senator Lugar or me or any-
one else, additional language.
But let me yield and apologize to the Senator from California and
blame the Senator from Maryland.
Senator BOXER. I think the Senator from Maryland is right,
these points are important. I cannot thank both of you enough, be-
cause you have helped me cement my views, and I want to tell you
why. During yesterdays hearing with Mr. McFarlane and Ambas-
sador Holbrooke I spoke about how I voted for force twice recently,
once against Milosevic in your day, Madam Secretary, and once
after 9/11 under the current administration, and I also spoke about
my belief, very strong belief that the use of force should be a last
resort, and that I believe every President has an obligation to lay
out a path for peace before taking us to war.
In my view, I have not seen this President do that yet, and in
the view of my constituents, thousands of whom are calling me
it is unbelievable, every 2 days, we get 1,000 calls or e-mails They
are saying they feel the President is itching to go to war, and to
put in a nicer way, a phrase that Secretary Albright used, not per-
taining to the President in her opinion, but she said some in the
administration have an irrational exuberance for war, and I think
that does speak for a lot of my constituents.
Well, I want to thank you in particular, Secretary Albright, be-
cause you did for me something that I have not heard yet before
today from someone at your level. You have laid out a path for
peace, and I believe your statement was a breath of fresh air in the
drumbeat of war.
I also would say to Dr. Kissinger, for one brief, shining moment
in your answer to Senator Sarbanes, I think you laid out a path
for peace, a little bit more skeptically than Secretary Albright, but
nonetheless, it was there, and I can tell you that I take pleasure
in small victories as this debate moves forward. For the first time,
I have seen experts lay out a path to avoid bloodshed, and I under-
stand it is not an easy path. I understand it might not work. I un-
derstand it will take a strong, intrusive, unfettered inspection re-
gime, followed by dismantlement of anything found.
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Botulinum toxin might be the most diabolical of Saddam Husseins terror tools,
but the U.S. is far from ready to protect its troopsthe only remedy is antitoxin
made from horse serum.
In the year since an unknown bioterrorist stuffed envelopes with anthrax and
mailed them, the government has stockpiled anthrax vaccine and antibiotics,
planned mass vaccination campaigns and ordered 209 million fresh doses of small-
pox vaccine.
Yet the United States is still unprepared to contend with other agents on its A-
list of potential biowarfare threats, especially botulinum toxin, an experimental ter-
ror tool of Saddam Husseins.
Botulinum toxin, the most poisonous substance known, is about 100,000 times
deadlier than the neurotoxin sarin, which was used in an attack on Tokyo subways
in 1995 that killed 10 and sent 5,000 people streaming into hospitals. During the
Gulf War in 1991, Iraq reportedly stockpiled thousands of liters of the botulinum
toxin and funneled some into bombs.
Today, as the United States edges closer to another war with Iraq, U.S. troops
would be just as vulnerable to botulinum toxin as they were a decade ago. Theres
still no government-approved vaccine, and the only antitoxin is made by extracting
antibodies from the blood of vaccinated horses using decades-old technology.
Antitoxin, which clears toxin from the blood, is so scarce that there isnt enough
to safeguard thousands of troops from a botulinum attack. There are other major
problems: Antitoxin is too difficult to administer on the battlefield, and it can have
life-threatening side effects.
Although a 21st-century biotechversion is in laboratory trials, it will be years be-
fore the experimental antitoxin reaches battlefield or civilian stockpiles.
Unfortunately, theres nothing really available for people yet, other than horse
serum, says George Lewis, a retired Army veterinary microbiologist who oversaw
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the program that developed the equine antitoxin shipped to Saudi Arabia during the
Gulf War.
When botulism strikes, it strikes hard. The toxin destroys the nerves that enable
people to breathe and swallow. Until the nerves regenerate, which takes weeks or
months, paralysis sets in. Without ventilators and mechanical life support, victims
almost always die.
Botulinum toxins availability and lethality make it a potentially fearsome weap-
on. It is difficult to defend against on the battlefield or in the hands of urban bio-
terrorists, who wouldnt have to kill millions or even thousands to have a consider-
able impact.
The toxin was so popular among Iraqi bioweapons scientists that they claimed to
have produced botulinum toxin on an industrial scale. After the Gulf War, Iraq told
U.N. weapons inspectors that it had stockpiled nearly 20,000 liters of toxin in solu-
tion in anticipation of a U.S. attack. Some of it, Iraq said, had been loaded into more
than 100 solution-filled wet bombs, which were never used.
Security analysts believe Iraqs bioweapons arsenal is much larger than Iraqi
leaders acknowledge. Even the experts can only guess at what Iraqi biologists have
cooked up since 1998, when U.N. inspections ended.
The biological program is a black hole, says Avigdor Haselkorn, a Defense De-
partment adviser with the Geopolitical Forum, a consulting group, and author of
The Continuing Storm: Iraq, Poisonous Weapons, and Deterrence, an analysis of the
Iraqi program.
If Saddam had chosen to use botulinum in 1991, he would have caught the U.S.
military with its guard down. At the start of the Gulf War, the U.S. stockpile of
equine antitoxin totaled roughly 2,600 doses. During the war, the Army bought a
herd of horses, vaccinated them and began extracting their antibodies for antitoxin.
But three years after the war, the funding died and the effort ended.
Military experts concede that biohazard suits and a costly, crude vaccine remain
the best defense against a battlefield botulinum attack. Antitoxin wont help much
on the battlefield, they say, because it must be given via a prolonged intravenous
drip right after exposure.
If there was a massive exposure on the battlefield, there arent enough medical
assets to give antitoxin to enough people, says Col. David Danley of the Armys
Joint Program Office for Biological Defense.
Where it comes from
The toxin is made by a microscopic bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. Most peo-
ple think of botulism as a scary byproduct of careless home and commercial canning,
because the bacterium growsand produces toxinonly in airless environments
such as vacuum-packed jars and cans.
Adults get botulism from direct exposure to the toxin in food or dirty hypodermic
needles, where spores can germinate in leftover liquid. But adults represent just
one-third of the roughly 100 cases that occur in the USA each year. The rest are
infants who are infected with spores traveling on dust motes in air or who are un-
wittingly fed spore-carrying honey. The spores germinate in the oxygen-free dark-
ness of the infants intestines, producing toxin from within.
Microscopic C. botulinum spores, which are found in backyards everywhere, are
easily accessible to those with the know-how to extract and grow them. In the hands
of an urban terrorist, experts say, the toxin could wreak havoc.
More people have died from West Nile virus than died from the anthrax letters,
but the chaos and terror and economic impact of anthrax were incalculable. You
could do that with botulinum toxin, says Stephen Arnon of the California Depart-
ment of Health, who led the effort to develop a human version of antitoxin to treat
infants. With the simplest of lab equipment, for $1,000, you could make enough
toxin to kill hundreds of people.
If a bioterrorist were to release a cloud of botulinum in a major city, 50,000 people
would get sick, and 30,000 of them would die without antitoxin treatment, according
to a report released this year by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Med-
icine, a think tank financed partly by Congress.
Because 80% to 90% of the beds in any intensive care unit in any given city are
usually fulland because most cities have just a few hundred intensive care beds
fewer than 100 cases of botulism could lock up every intensive care ward in a city
like San Francisco for weeks, says James Marks of the University of California-San
Francisco, an author of the report.
The gridlock would displace cancer patients, heart patients and candidates for
elective surgery, Marks says, depriving them of life support and turning them into
collateral damage.
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The religious sect Aum Shinrikyo attempted to weaponize botulinum toxin before
its attack on the Tokyo subway system. Aum Shinrikyos attempt failed because the
botulinum variant members used turned out to be non-lethal. Sarin was the groups
second choice.
Botulinum toxin is a very scary agent, says Arturo Casadevall, an infectious-dis-
ease specialist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. We wouldnt
know we were attacked until we had an epidemic of paralyzed people with no expla-
nation.
Casadevall notes that ordinary medicines wouldnt help the victims. One of my
fears, he says, is that if we get hit we wouldnt have enough respirators in New
York City. If you had an attack that involved thousands of people, you couldnt put
them in the (intensive care unit).
Quick access to antitoxin would shorten the course of the illness. If a bioterrorist
were to release a cloud of botulinum toxin in a big city, antitoxin could save about
half of the lives that would be lost.
But antitoxin is in perilously short supply. After the Gulf War, the Army stock-
piled 5,000 doses of finished antitoxin from its herd of horses. The Centers for Dis-
ease Control and Prevention stored some of what remains in freezers, but officials
will not disclose exactly how much they have on hand. The Army put 45,000 unproc-
essed doses into the deep freeze.
In 1999, the Army abandoned the program and donated 53 horses to the Air Force
Academy stables. Some were auctioned or sold, stable manager Billy Jack Barrett
says; others are kept at the stables for cadets and others to ride.
The story of the Armys botulinum antitoxin program provides a compelling exam-
ple of the nations once-ambivalent commitment to biodefense, experts say.
Before the Gulf War, most military analysts were more concerned about nuclear
and chemical weapons than they were about biological agents. In 1972, 140 coun-
triesincluding Iraqrenounced offensive biowarfare by signing the Biological
Weapons Convention. But the treaty didnt deter Iraq from launching a covert bio-
weapons program.
CIA bioweapons analyst Kimberly Stergulz says bioterrorism offers rogue nations
like Iraqand non-state actors like al-Qaedacheap access to weapons of mass
destruction. A rogue nation can launch an extensive biowarfare program for about
$10 million, compared with the $2 billion needed to build nuclear arms.
Analysts estimate that by the time Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Baghdad had
spent $100 million on biowarfare delivery devices and agents. Besides botulism, the
Iraqis brewed up vast amounts of anthrax; ricin, a castor-bean toxin that blocks
breathing and circulation; and Clostridium perfringens, which causes gangrene.
No one knows how effective Iraqs arsenal would have been had Saddam elected
to drop those bombs. Some animal research suggests that botulinum is 40 to 80
times more lethal when it is consumed in food than when it is inhaled into the
lungs.
Before the United States abandoned offensive bioweapons research in 1969, tests
on Horn Island, near Pascagoula, Miss., suggested botulinum isnt effective when its
dropped in a small bomb.
It just didnt kill guinea pigs downrange, says David Franz, former commander
of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases.
But a British intelligence report released Tuesday says Iraq is judged to be self-
sufficient in the technology needed to improve its bioweapons, including fer-
menters, centrifuges and spray dryers. The L-29 drone aircraft developed by Iraqi
engineers are basically high-tech crop-dusters capable of unleashing up to 80 gallons
of toxin or other agents in a deadly mist.
In the wake of Sept. 11 and the anthrax attacks, the government has developed
a renewed interest in the botulism antitoxin, says Nicholas Pomato, vice president
of research at Intracell, the Gaithersburg, Md., biotech firm that made the antitoxin
during the Gulf War.
Intracell has begun negotiating to finish the job of processing the Armys stored
horse serum, Pomato says, at a cost of $15 million to $20 millionabout $500 a
dose. Double that cost if you start making the material from scratch again from
horses, Pomato says.
But he adds that it will take time to outfit a processing facility and begin the
work. New supplies, he says, wont be tested and ready for use until next year.
Since the Army has decided not to stockpile antitoxin because it would be un-
wieldy to use on the battlefield, Pomato says, the CDC plans to take over the serum
for use in the event of a bioterror attack against civilians.
But horse antitoxin isnt without drawbacks. The human body might recognize it
as foreign and reject it, much as it would a transplanted organ. Doctors who admin-
ister antitoxin must keep drugs on hand to counter allergic reactions and rejection.
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Ironically, because botulism is such a rare disease, drug companies have elected
to invest in more profitable productssuch as the toxin itself. A purified form of
botulinum toxin, sold as Botox, is used to treat a long list of ailments, including eye-
muscle spasms, post-stroke spasticity, migraine headaches and cerebral palsy.
Botoxs popularity as a wrinkle relaxer also promises to turn it into a billion-dollar
cosmetic drug.
The anthrax attacks, impending war with Iraq and an imminent flood of govern-
ment research money could provoke new interest in treating the botulism itself.
Marks, at the University of California-San Francisco, and his colleagues at the
Armys infectious-diseases research institute already have begun exploiting the new
tools of biotechnology to develop an alternative to equine antitoxin.
In late August, they reported success in developing a trio of genetically engineered
human antibodies. Given together in animal tests, the three antibodies inactivated
botulinum toxin type A, the most lethal toxin and the one preferred by Saddam.
Biotech antitoxin, Marks says, could deweaponize botulinum toxin.
Because the antibodies persist in the body for months, troops going into battle
could be immunized; protection would last six months. The antibodies are 100 times
stronger than the human antibodies used to treat infants, but the experimental
antibodies will take years to develop.
Human clinical trials have not yet begun. Moreover, type A botulinum toxin is
only one of seven types; different antibody cocktails must be identified for each one.
Marks says vast amounts could be made cheaply in high-production fermenters
to treat civilians stricken in a bioterror attack. One kilogram could treat 10,000
people, he says, and an industrial fermenter could crank out 120 kilograms a
month.
The challenge now, Marks says, is to make them, get them into humans and see
if they work.
The Army has a vaccine, developed years ago, that primes the immune system
to make its own anti-botulinum antibodies. It is rarely used because so few people
run the risk of exposure to the toxin. The vaccine has never gotten government ap-
proval because the Army has never been able to mount a large-scale study showing
that the vaccine works. As a result, the vaccine can be used only under a special
exemption from FDA rules. Newer vaccines are also in the works, but they are years
from winning approval.
The Botox connection
In an odd twist, vaccinating soldiers or civilians also would immunize them
against Botox, the only potential bioterror agent approved for use as a drug.
Botox, which is made by Allergan, poses a dilemma to health officials and bio-
terror strategists. Vaccinating soldiers and the public would protect against expo-
sure to the toxin, but it also would deprive people of Botoxs benefitand knock a
blockbuster product with estimated sales of $430 million this year off the market.
Former FDA commissioner Donald Kennedy, a Stanford University neurobiologist
who has used the toxin for years in research, says the risk of leaving the public un-
protected is just too great.
Who would have imagined a world in which terror weapons are used as beauty
aids? Kennedy wrote in a recent issue of the journal Science.
Kennedy, the journals editor, worries that mass producing Botox, and trying to
improve it, will ultimately make it a bigger threat. I think we should develop a
vaccine, he says.
Allergan vice president Mitchell Brin, a Botox pioneer, says his firm has chosen
to stay out of the vaccine debate. Brin says the company has assured the govern-
ment that it will keep its Botox operation secret to preserve national security. We
dont talk about our manufacturing facilities, he says. Weve agreed to keep a low
profile.
WEAPONS AGAINST BIOTERRORISM(BIOTERROR AGENT)
Anthrax
Symptoms: A high fever and flu-like symptoms for inhalation anthrax; a black le-
sion from cutaneous anthrax. Anthrax cannot be transmitted from person to person.
Defenses: Antibiotic Cipro, which must be taken for 60 days, is the only drug ap-
proved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat inhalation anthrax. But so far,
all of the anthrax strains have been identified also have been sensitive to
doxycycline and other tetracycline antibiotics, as well as penicillin. Bayer, maker of
Cipro, tripled it production last fall.
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Botulinum toxin
Symptoms: Botulism always begins with paralysis in the muscles of the head,
eyes and face and throat. The first signs appear 12 to 72 hours after exposure. They
are typically droopy eyelids, the absence of smile lines around the eyes and dilated
pupils. Paralysis descends down the body, with muscles growing limp. Muscles that
govern breathing and swallowing stop working. Patients need life-support to sur-
vive.
Defenses: An experimental vaccine made from inactivated toxin is used mainly to
protect people who work with botulinum and Botox (purified toxin, which is sold as
a drug). Newer biotech versions are also in the works. Human anti-toxin made of
antibodies from the blood of vaccinated humans is used to treat infant botulism.
Horse antitoxin, made from the blood of vaccinated horses, is used to treat adults
with the disease.
Smallpox
Symptoms: High fever, chills and head and back aches begin one to six days after
exposure. A rash forms on the face, arms and legs and can cause severe scarring.
The disease is spread through person-to-person contact. It is highly contagious, es-
pecially in populations in which few people have been vaccinated or have had the
disease.
Defenses: Vaccination against smallpox in the USA ended in 1971; the worlds last
naturally occurring case was in Somalia in 1977. The United States currently has
155 million doses of vaccine made decades ago kept in storage. Another 209 million
doses have been ordered and are expected by the end of the year, bringing the total
supply to 364 million doses.
Tularemia (also known as rabbit fever)
Symptoms: The bacteria-borne disease cannot be spread from person to person; it
is usually spread through contaminated animals or meat. Initial symptoms include
fever, chills and weakness. Tularemia triggers pneumonia, pleuritis and lymph-node
disease within three to five days of exposure. The disease is rare in the USA, but
outbreaks commonly occur in Europe and Russia.
Defenses: Tularemia is treated with antibiotics; the military has a vaccine, but
its not available for general use. Treatment with antibiotics after exposure is effec-
tive.
Plague
Symptoms: High fever, chills and headache begin one to six days after exposure.
Death can occur within two to four days.
Defenses: The vaccine for bubonic plague, which is transmitted by fleas, is not ef-
fective against the aerosolized form that would be used in bioterrorism. Antibiotic
treatment must begin within 24 hours of symptoms to improve chances of survival.
Viral homorrhagic fever
Symptoms: Depending on the virus (Ebola, Marburg, others), symptoms can be
high fever, diarrhea and muscle aches, followed by severe chest pain, shock and
bleeding. Death can occur in seven days.
Defenses: No licensed vaccines exist for any of these diseases, though experi-
mental versions have been made for yellow fever and Argentine hemorrhagic fever.
The only therapy is supportive, mainly intravenous fluids. An antiviral drug called
ribavirin has proven useful in people with Rift Valley and Lassa fevers. An oral
form can be used when there are mass casualties and not enough health workers
or equipment to give it intravenously.
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and said, you are allowed to have an Iraqi military person standing
in the room. That is unacceptable.
We also discussed the possibility of the need for a military force
to accompany the inspectors, and to that, and I am anxious to hear
what the Secretary of State has to say, the Foreign Minister said
he was open to that. The Russians were open to that. So I would
not be so quickand I know neither of the witnesses are sug-
gesting it. I would not be so quick to suggest that Secretary Powell
may not be able to pull off something very positive here to get us
down this road we all say we want to go down.
So I just want to make those two points as it relates to how it
is beginning to move, and hopefully, God willing, and my grandpop
used to say, and the creek not rising, we could end up at the end
of the day with the same kind of resolution agreement we had as
we work through the 1998 resolution with sufficient safeguards
built into it.
But at any rateand Senator, you and the Senator from Florida
can take additional time to ask your questions, because you have
been so patient.
Senator CHAFEE. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, very much. I
know we all share the same goals and had a good discussion about
that, but one of the areas that does concern me is the international
relations that have been, the dynamics that have been created by
this initiative and, of course, the elections in Germany are, I guess,
on the front burner as to how that became an issue in that country.
But oneand you read the comments from the various inter-
national leaders from around the country, whether it is China,
Japan, Kuwait, even our friends in Canada, they are all expressing
concerns about this, but particularly one of the quotes was from
President Mubarak, who is maybe one of the deans in the Arab
world, has been there since the early eighties as the leader of his
country, and he said just several weeks ago, if you strike Iraq, not
one Arab leader will be able to control the angry outburst of the
masses.
And maybe we should not argue, just for the sake of discussion,
about whether he is right or wrong, but supposing he is right, then
what happens, and from your experience, maybe you could take us
down that path. What countries are most susceptible in the region
to the angry outburst of the masses?
Jordan, certainly King Abdullah has expressed concerns, and
where do we go? Then do we go into Jordan and help him out? Do
we go into Saudi Arabia or Egypt to help them out? Maybe you
could go down that path a little bit, if he is right, just for the sake
of argument.
Ms. ALBRIGHT. First of all, could I just say I appreciate Chair-
man Biden straightening out the business about exuberance, be-
cause I did not say it about the President or the whole administra-
tion, but I do think, as I said earlier, that there are those who had
an agenda even before this started, so that concerns me.
I think Secretary Kissinger is right when he says that if we go
in and do this ultimately there will be some that have said they
would have nothing to do with us that will have something to do
with us, so I do not dispute that.
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country, north and south and in the middle, but that this could be
a very strong force for democracy once Saddam is removed in that
region.
Secretary Albright, you would have dealt with that a lot as Sec-
retary, and probably had a lot of opportunity to think about that
recently as well.
Ms. ALBRIGHT. Well, I think it would be much wished, and clear-
ly the population of Iraq is a little bit different in terms of its mo-
dernity and education from some of the other places, but the ques-
tion that I think we have, and we raised, was, what is the plan to
get from here to there, that it will not be simple, that there is not
only the potential of democracy, but also the potential of inter-
necine fighting before we get there, and what I have wanted to
hear a little bit more from the administration, what is the plan
from getting here to there?
I am chairman of the board of the National Democratic Institute,
that has been working very hard at looking at different ways that
democracy might be possible in the Middle East. We have pro-
grams in Yemen and Bahrain, and I am not one of those people
who believes that it is impossible to have democracy in the Middle
East, but I think that we have to get there in a systematic way,
and understand how we get there, and I must say that while I
have a great deal of respect for those people who try to work with
the Iraqi National Congress, it is not a group that I think is
quitehas shown so far that it has the continuity and the coopera-
tion within it to be ready to have democracy.
I have talked to the Kurdish leaders. They would so much like
to hear us talking about not regime change but a freeing of Iraq,
and I think we should be thinking about that, but I think it is a
long way between here and there, and that is why we need to see
a little bit more how we get there, and what the role of the United
States in that will be.
Dr. KISSINGER. I would say that the choices with respect to weap-
ons of mass destruction are relatively limited. Our choices after a
military operation will require us to bring about substantial im-
provement in Iraqi conditions. I would consider it unlikely that one
could move there to full democracy in a very brief time. However
I think it is essential to move to accountability of the government
institutions toward some type of constitutional system, and to sub-
stantial improvement in the lives of the population. We cannot do
that all alone and it will require an international effort.
Senator BROWNBACK. I would certainly agree with that. I think
there is a potential to do something extraordinarily positive for a
lot of people and extraordinarily positive for our security here, not
without huge risks, substantial risks, but the risks of waiting I
have concluded are greater than those of acting now.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been very patient. With your permis-
sion, I would like to let Senator Sarbaneshe says he has another
question, and I know you missed your shuttles, two of them here.
Senator SARBANES. Mr. Chairman, I am looking at a dispatch
from a Virginia paper reporting on a meeting at the University of
Virginia on Tuesday at the Miller Center, at which General Scow-
croft and Secretary Eagleburger spoke. They had a crowd of, it says
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here of over 900 people, and the director of the center says, I do
not know of a larger gathering, or an event of this kind in the city
in a long time.
At that event, General Scowcroft said, America cannot fight a
global war on terrorism without the active assistance of other na-
tions, and must consider what the consequences of actions taken in
Iraq might be for that international cooperation. Saddam is a ter-
rible, evil man, he said, but he is not a problem for us because
of terrorism. If we antagonize the world, it could cripple world sup-
port for the war on terrorism. We cannot win the war on terrorism
without international support.
And, of course, earlier, a little over a month ago, General Scow-
croft had an article in the Wall Street Journal in which he said,
amongst other things, an attack on Iraq now would seriously jeop-
ardize our counterterrorist campaign.
Now, Secretary Kissinger, you have argued here this morning
just to the contrary. You think an attack on Iraq would help the
counterterrorism campaign, but General Scowcroft is very strong
on this point. I mean, he argues it with considerable force, so what
is your take on this, Secretary Albright?
Ms. ALBRIGHT. Well, I agree with what General Scowcroft has
said. That has kind of been my point, is that basically the war on
terrorism I think we have been told by the President is our top pri-
ority, and I do think that in many ways, either because assets are
removed, or because we cannot get the kind of cooperation we need
from the rest of the international community for pursuing the ter-
rorists, that this in some ways is an additional task that we do not
need right now.
But I think, Senator, the problem that we are all having in this
is that there is nothing that is written in stone in this, that there
are answers that are not out there, and we are all, I think, trying
to seek them, and my personal opinion is that, as you pointed out
earlier, we have not finished in Afghanistan. In fact, far from it.
Senator SARBANES. We may not have finished elsewhere. I was
struck by Secretary Kissingers statement here, and I just alluded
to it before, and I want to come back to it. At the bottom of page
1 of your statement, bases for terrorists have been established in
several countries, and I am now quoting, usually in areas where
the governments can plausibly deny control, are actually not in
control, such as in Yemen, Somalia, or perhaps Indonesia and
Iran.
Now, should we not be focused on that specific problem at this
time, if these terrorists have established these bases, this infra-
structure, like what they had in Afghanistan, although presumably
not as fully developed, should not the immediate focus of our atten-
tion be to figure out how to destroy that infrastructure?
Dr. KISSINGER. General Scowcroft is a long-time associate and
friend of mine, for whom I have very high regard. We just have a
serious difference of opinion on that subject. I do not believe that
the war against these bases is competitive with the need to destroy
the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Indeed, I believe that suc-
cess, either diplomatic or military, in destroying these weapons of
mass destruction will enhance our ability to conduct another war.
Scowcroft has a different opinion.
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AFTERNOON SESSION
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PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR.
Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to welcome Secretary of State Powell back before
this Committee.
Mr. Secretary, as you know, in late July this Committee began hearings on U.S.
policy toward Iraq. Our purpose was to start a national discussion of that policy and
to raise the difficult questions that surround any consideration of next steps.
We have heard from a broad range of expert witnesses. Elsewhere, prominent
Americans with decades of experience in foreign and national security policy have
spoken out. And the Bush Administration has begun to do so as wellin public
statements, in hearings before Congress, and in President Bushs important speech
to the United Nations General Assembly.
As a result, I believe there is an emerging bi-partisan consensus on some basic
principles for moving forward on Iraq. And this is in no small measure due to your
leadership.
First, Iraq is the worlds concern, not just a concern of the United States. Mr. Sec-
retary, I believe that you were instrumental in shaping the Presidents speech to
the United Nations. It was a devastating indictment, by the U.N.s own standards,
of Iraqs defiance of the international community. For more than a decade, Saddam
has flaunted solemn obligationsobligations made not to the United States, but to
the United Nations. The President was right to take this issue to the U.N. and right
to make it clear that the legitimacy of that institution and the effectiveness of inter-
national security cooperation is at stake.
Second, we should pursue a policy toward Iraq that has broad international sup-
port. To be colloquial about this matter, it is better if we move with the world be-
hind us than against us. I applaud your efforts to build that support. Our allies
around the world and in the region have important and necessary contributions to
make in the effort to disarm Iraq. And we must continue to work with them in the
unfinished war against terrorism.
Third, many of us share the conviction that Saddam Husseins relentless pursuit
of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons, poses a significant
threat to Iraqs people, its region and the world. Ultimately, either Saddam must
be dislodged from his weapons, or he must be dislodged from power.
I believe there is a broad consensus on these principles. But important, indeed
fundamental questions remain about the Administrations Iraq policy and about the
consequences of the various courses of action under consideration.
And that puts us in an extraordinary situation. The President has asked Congress
for an expansive grant of authority to wage war before he himself has decided to
go to war or addressed these unanswered questions. I have no doubt that you are
here to answer these questions.
The Presidents speech to the United Nations was an important moment. He made
a powerful case, under the U.N.s own standards, that Saddam Hussein is the
worlds problem. But he has not yet made the case to the American people that the
United States must solve this problem alone, if necessary.
The threat posed by Iraq is real and escalating. The singular capacity of the
United States to deal with this threat alone is real. But so are the potential costs.
Indeed, I believe the degree to which we act alone correlates with the price we will
have to pay in lives, dollars and influence around the world.
That is a burden we may have to bearone I know that you and the President
do not wish to bear alone. But before we bear that burden, the American people
have to know what they are being asked to sign up to.
And so Mr. Secretary, I hope that, here today, you will address some of these
questions, and that in the days and weeks to come, we will hear the President lay-
ing out what it is we are going to ask of the American people.
What is the likelihood that Iraq would use its weapons of mass destruction
against us, to blackmail us or to supply to terrorists?
What is our objective? To compel Iraq to destroy its illegal weapons of mass de-
struction programs? Or to liberate Kuwaiti prisoners? Or to end Saddam Husseins
regime?
What is the rationale for our action? To enforce the U.N. Security Council resolu-
tions that Saddam has flaunted for more than a decade? Or to preempt the possi-
bility he will use his weapons against us?
Would attacking Iraq risk precipitating the very thing we are trying to prevent:
the use of weapons of mass destruction? I know we have no absolute answers to
these things, but I think in fairness to the American people, we should discuss
them.
Ultimately, Mr. Secretary, your appearance here today is part of a singularly im-
portant process that must culminate with the President securing the informed con-
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sent of the American people for our policy toward Iraq. I am confident he can do
that. But Im also absolutely confident it can only be done with some significant
change in the resolution that has been sent to us and with some clear specification
as to what the President will be asking of us.
I hope we in the Congress dont say to the American people what was said to
them by previous Congresses in the 1960sthat we can have guns and butter, ev-
erything we want, and that the costs could be borne without any sacrifices.
It may be everything works out like clockwork and theres no problem. But I do
not want to be part of a Senate that gives the President the authority where we
move, and it ends up that we are required to submit billions of dollars a year to
sustain a unified Iraq after we defeat Saddam, and not be able to get the money
and the commitment up here to do it. I will not be part of that personally. I think
everyone should know what were in for and what the possible costs are, even
though we cant say for certain.
So Mr. Secretary, Im delighted youre here. I am thankful you are here and Im
thankful you are the Secretary of State at this moment. And I look forward to hear-
ing what you have to say.
But I will now yield, if I may, to Senator Helms.
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that our committee has taken such an active role in considering (1) the threats
posed by the Iraqi regime under Saddam Hussein, and, (2) the appropriate U.S. re-
sponse to these threats.
The Presidents speech two weeks ago to the General Assembly of the United Na-
tions presented the clearest possible case for action against the Iraqi regime of Sad-
dam Hussein. I will support the President.
Ten years of noncompliance with United Nations resolutions, the continued bru-
tality waged against his own population, the imprisonment of hundreds of Kuwaiti
citizens held since 1990, and evidence of continued pursuit of weapons of mass de-
struction are all the evidence any Senator needs to support the President, which
certainly I do and will continue to do.
Mr. Chairman, there are two criticisms that have been directed against the Presi-
dent. First, it has been suggested by some that the President failed to pay due dili-
gence to the role of the United Nations. Well, that simply is not so. The President
has challenged the much-ballyhooed institution in New York to seize this oppor-
tunity to become an important actor in world affairs, not just a critic of people who
are doing the heavy-lifting in dealing with foreign affairs.
The truth is, the Presidents September 12 speech to the United Nations methodi-
cally detailed the history of Iraqi noncompliance with U.N. Security Council resolu-
tions. It is now up to the United Nations to demonstrate that it is the U.N. that
has the will to enforce its resolutions and rhetoric.
The ball is clearly in the U.N.s court. If the Security Council now fails to support
action against Saddam Hussein, the U.N.s ineffectiveness and irrelevance will be
incontrovertibly clear.
Surely, if the September 11 attacks taught us anything, it is that America does
not have the luxury of sitting idle while our enemies conspire against us. We simply
cannot wait for Iraq to acquire the nuclear weapons to add to the chemical and bio-
logical weapons Iraq already possesses.
Second, some have suggested that the President has not fully taken into account
the legitimate role of the Congress in fundamental questions of war and peace.
Mr. Chairman, the truth is, Congress has been, and continues to be, consulted.
The President formally asked Congress to pass a resolution giving him the authority
to end the Saddam Hussein problem once and for all.
Mr. Chairman, I am confident that the Senate will give the President the author-
ity he has requested.
Like the United Nations, we too must consider our own previous declarations and
mandates. We must consider our strong words in the Iraq Liberation Act.
We must consider our previous joint letters to the President. We must consider
our previous grants of authority to the President.
In 1998, the Congress authorized an earlier President to take appropriate action
to bring Iraq into compliance with its United Nations-imposed obligations. Are we
not obliged to give this President similar authority, and trust that he will take
meaningful action to address the dangerous threats to peace and security posed by
Saddam Husseins regime?
The answer, to borrow a Latin expression used by lawyersres ipsa loquitur.
Mr. Chairman, the thing does indeed speak for itself. Lets get about the business
of standing with the President.
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President Bush is fully determined to deal with this threat. His Administration
is determined to defeat it. I believe the American people would have us do no less.
President Bush is also aware of the need to engage the international community.
He understands how powerful a strong and unified international community can be,
as we have seen so well-demonstrated in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and
elsewhere.
The need to engage the international community is why the President took his
message on the grave and gathering danger of Iraq to the United Nations last week.
Moreover, it is the United Nations that is the offended party, not Iraq, as some
might claim.
It was United Nations resolutions that were systematically and brutally ignored
and violated for these past 12 years. It was United Nations inspectors who found
it impossible to do their job and had to leave their work unfinished.
The Presidents challenge to the United Nations General Assembly was a direct
and simple one: If you would remain relevant, you must act.
The Presidents speech was powerful and energized the UN General Assembly de-
bate. It changed the political landscape on which this issue was being discussed,
Iraq is the problem. Iraq is in material breach of the demands placed upon it by
the United Nations.
President Bush made clear in his speech what Iraq must do to repair this breach:
Iraq must immediately and unconditionally forswear, disclose, and remove or
destroy all weapons of mass destruction, long-range missiles, and all related
material.
Iraq must end all support for terrorism and act to suppress it, as all states are
required to do by UN Security Council resolutions.
Iraq must cease persecution of its civilian population, including Shia, Sunnis,
Kurds, Turkomans, and others, again as required by UN Security Council reso-
lutions.
Iraq must release or account for all Gulf War personnel whose fate is still un-
known. It must return the remains of any who are deceased, return stolen prop-
erty, accept liability for losses resulting from the invasion of Kuwait, and it
must cooperate fully with international efforts to resolve these issues, once
again as required by Security Council resolutions.
And Iraq must immediately end all illicit trade outside the oil-for-food program.
It must accept UN administration of funds from that program, to ensure that
the money is used fairly and promptly for the benefit of the Iraqi people.
All of these demands on Iraq are spelled out in the sixteen Security Council reso-
lutions levied against that country since 1991. If these demands on Iraq sound like
regime change, then so be it. And Mr. Chairman, if there is regime change, brought
about either by Iraqi voluntary compliance with these demands or by the use of
military force to compel compliance, the United States will commit wholeheartedly
to the reconstruction of Iraq as a democratic state with its territory intact.
Over the weekend following the Presidents speech, I watched the pressure build
on the Iraqi regime as the Arab League, the Secretary General and others pressed
Iraq on the need to take action.
On Monday of last week, Iraq responded with a familiar, tactical ploy. The Iraqi
Foreign Minister said Iraq would let the inspectors in without conditions. But he
is not deceiving anyone. And later last week, in a speech at the United Nations,
the Foreign Minister challenged President Bushs September 12th speech. He then
called for a discussion of the issue of inspection teams in accordance with inter-
national lawalmost immediately rescinding his Monday offer of inspections with-
out conditions. Now, two days ago, we have an Iraqi presidential adviser telling the
press in Baghdad, that weapons inspectors would be allowed to go wherever they
want.
It is a ploy we have seen before, on many occasions. And on each occasion, once
inspectors began to operate Iraq continued to do everything to frustrate their work.
In May 1991, for example, just after suspension of hostilities in the Gulf War,
Iraq accepted the unrestricted freedom of entry and exit without delay or hindrance
for UN inspectors and their property, supplies, and equipment.
In June 1991a short month laterIraqis fired warning shots at the inspectors
to keep them away from suspicious vehicles.
Three months later, in September, the Iraqis confiscated a set of documents from
the inspectors. When the inspectors refused to comply with an Iraqi demand to give
up a second set of documents, the Iraqis surrounded them and for four days refused
to let them leave the inspection site. Finally, when the UN threatened enforcement
action, the inspectors were allowed to leave.
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In February 1992 Iraq refused to comply with a UN inspection teams decision to
destroy certain facilities used in proscribed programs and in April of that year Iraq
demanded a halt to the inspectors aerial flights.
Later, in July of that year, Iraq refused the inspectors access to the Iraqi Ministry
of Agriculture. The inspectors had reliable information that the site contained ar-
chives related to proscribed activities. They finally gained access only after members
of the Council threatened enforcement action.
In January 1993, Iraq refused to allow the UN inspection teams to use their own
aircraft to fly into Iraq.
In June and July of 1993, Iraq refused to allow the UN inspectors to install re-
mote-controlled monitoring cameras at two missile engine test stands.
In March 1996, Iraqi security forces refused UN inspection teams access to five
sites designated for inspection. The teams entered the sites after delays of up to 17
hourswhich of course permitted the Iraqis to remove any incriminating evidence.
In November 1996, Iraq blocked UN inspectors from removing remnants of missile
engines for in-depth analysis outside Iraq.
In June 1997, Iraqi escorts on board a UN inspector team helicopter attempted
physically to prevent the UN pilot from flying the helicopter in the direction of its
intended destination.
In that month also, Iraq again blocked UN inspection teams from entering des-
ignated sites for inspection.
In September 1997, an Iraqi officer attacked a UN inspector on board a UN heli-
copter while the inspector was attempting to take photographs of unauthorized
movement of Iraqi vehicles inside a site designated for inspection.
Also in September, while seeking access to a site declared by Iraq to be sen-
sitive, UN inspectors witnessed and videotaped Iraqi guards moving files, burning
documents, and dumping ash-filled waste cans into a nearby river.
Mr. Chairman, I have left out much and could go onall the way to the departure
of the UN inspection teams from Iraq in December 1998 because they could no
longer do their job. And I could talk about Operation Desert Fox, the military action
that resulted.
But I believe you get the point.
The Iraqi regime is infamous for its ploys, its stalling tactics, its demands on in-
spectorssometimes at the point of a gun, and its general and consistent defiance
of the mandate of the UN Security Council.
There is absolutely no reason at all to expect that Iraq has changed, that this lat-
est effort to welcome inspectors without conditions is not another ploy.
Lets be clear about the reason for their announcement. The Iraqis did not sud-
denly see the error of their past ways. They were responding to the heat and pres-
sure generated by the international community after President Bushs speech.
The United States has made it clear to our Security Council colleagues that we
will not fall for this ploy. This is the time to apply more pressure, not to relent.
We must not believe that inspectors going in on the same conditions that caused
their withdrawal four years ago is in any way acceptable. These four years have
been more than enough time for Iraq to procure, develop, and hide proscribed items
well beyond the reach of the kinds of inspectors that were subject to Saddams cheat
and retreat approach from 1991 to 1998.
The United States has determined that Iraqs obstruction of UN Security Council
resolutions and its gross violation of its obligations cannot continue. In his speech
to the General Assembly, the President challenged the Security Council to live up
to its responsibilities. The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, said the same thing.
We, our closest allies, and our friends around the world are prepared to do our part
to enforce Security Council resolutions and render harmless the Iraqi threat. We are
discussing now the best way to proceed with the other members of the Security
Council and with close friends. We are trying to find a solution.
If part of the solution involves an inspection regime, it must be a regime that goes
in with the authority of a new resolution that removes the weaknesses of the
present regime and which will not tolerate any Iraqi disobedience. It cannot be a
resolution that will be negotiated with Iraq. The resolution must be strong enough
and comprehensive enough that it produces disarmament, not just inspections.
Many UN members, including some on the Security Council, want to take Iraq
at its word and send inspectors back in without any new resolution or new author-
ity. This is a recipe for failure.
The debate we are having within the Council is on need for and the specific word-
ing of a resolution. Our position is clear. We must face the facts and find Iraq in
material breach. Then, we must specify the actions we demand of Iraqwhich
President Bush has already shown us. And we must determine what consequences
will flow from Iraqs failure to take action.
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That is what makes this time different. This time, unlike any time over the pre-
vious 12 years of Iraqi defiance, there must be hard consequences. This time, Iraq
must comply with the UN mandate or there will be decisive action to compel compli-
ance.
In New York, we are listening to other points of view and trying to reach agree-
ment within the Security Council. It is a difficult debate. We are also preserving
the Presidents ability to defend our nation and our interests.
Some have suggested that there is a conflict in this approach, that U.S. interests
should be our total concern.
But Mr. Chairman, both of these issues are important. We are a member of the
UN Security Council. We are a member of the UN. It is a multilateral institution
whose resolutions have been violated. But the United States, as a separate matter,
believes that its interest is threatened. We are trying to solve this problem through
the United Nations and in a multilateral way. The President took the case to the
UN because it is the body that should deal with such matters as Iraq. It was created
to deal with such matters. And President Bush is hoping that the UN will act and
act in a decisive way.
But at the same time, if the UN is not able to act and, act decisivelyand I think
that would be a terrible indictment of the UNthen the United States will have
to make its own decision as to whether the danger posed by Iraq is such that we
have to act in order to defend our country and our interests.
And Mr. Chairman, our diplomatic efforts at the United Nations would be helped
by a strong Congressional resolution authorizing President Bush to take action.
I ask for your immediate action on such a resolution to show the world that we
are united in this effort.
Mr. Chairman, my colleagues in the intelligence community and in the Depart-
ment of Defense are giving the Congress what it will need with respect to intel-
ligence on Iraq and on military contingency planning. So I wont speak to those
areas.
But let me say this about the Iraqi threat before I stop and allow the greater part
of this time for your important questions.
We can have debates about the size and nature of the Iraqi stockpile of WMD and
of midand long-range missiles. But no one can doubt the record of Iraqi violations
of United Nations Security Council resolutions, one after another, and for twelve
long years.
And no one can doubt that the Iraqi dictators intentions have not changed. He
wants weapons of mass destruction as clearly as he wants to remain in power.
Thank you and Ill stop there and take your questions.
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they might be next, ripping up the cells, all of this before they have
a chance to act.
So the campaign against terrorism is going in full swing, and I
dont see why there is a suggestion that somehow if we had to un-
dertake this mission, it would be at the expense of the campaign
against terrorism. Would it require a surge? Yes. Would it require
a lot of our energy? Yes. But the suggestion that we werent going
to be able to continue the campaign against terrorism if we moved
in this direction I dont think is an accurate assessment.
Senator HELMS. I wonder of your reaction to anti-American rhet-
oric of the Schroeder campaign for Chancellor of Germany. I was
terribly offended by that. Now, the guy won. No question about
that. But it was a very small margin of victory. So what do you
think will be the long-term impact on U.S.-German relations if this
anti-American election rhetoric continues?
Secretary POWELL. We were deeply disturbed and offended by
how the Iraqi issue played into the recent German election, and we
were very disappointed. We made that disappointment known to
Chancellor Schroeder and to many other German officials, and we
were particularly horrified by the comments of the Minister of Jus-
tice and her comparison of President Bush and some of his actions
to those of Hitler. And we expressed our outrage over that.
But I have to stand back and take a look at some other things
to put this in context and perspective. Germany has been very
helpful in a number of areas over the past year. Theyve been very
supportive of our efforts in Afghanistan. Theyve been very sup-
portive of our campaign against terrorism. What we saw in this re-
cent election I dont think was so much anti-American as it was
anti a particular American policy.
Joschka Fischer, my Foreign Minister colleague, gives some of
the most powerful pro-American speeches you can hear. When we
needed a place to hold a conference to create the new Afghan au-
thority last year, it was Germany that stepped forward and volun-
teered, and we held the conference in Bonn. And when we had the
loya jirga recently and needed somebody to sponsor that, the Ger-
mans did it. And when we needed somebody to help train the new
Afghan police, military, and border forces, Germany stepped for-
ward. And Germany has indicated the desire now to take over the
ISAF.
So we have been good friends with Germany for many years. We
will remain good friends in the years to come. But a serious breach
occurred in recent weeks as a result of the matter in which this
issue inserted itself into the German election campaign, and we
were disappointed, disturbed, and we expressed our concerns to our
German colleagues.
Senator HELMS. Mr. Secretary, its always good to see you, and
thank you for coming.
The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Secretary, before I yield to the Senator from
Maryland, its been pointed out by one of my colleaguesyoull
never guess who, and I wont name thembut when I said
Johnnie comes marching home, I should have said Johnnie and
Jill come marching home.
Secretary POWELL. Absolutely.
The CHAIRMAN. And I apologize for that, because there are
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and the previous administration made that the policy of the U.S.
Government.
Senator SARBANES. Why are you listing all these things if the
weapons is the thing? Shouldnt wedo you want authority to use
military force against Iraq, from the Congress, in order to make
them comply with U.N. resolutions on illicit trade outside the oil-
for-food program? Do you want that authority?
Secretary POWELL. The principal reason for the authority is for
the President to do what he needs to do to focus on the principal
offense that he has been presenting to the Nation, and that is
weapons of mass destruction. The rest of those elements
Senator SARBANES. All right, I want to take you through the rest
of them. Do you want authority to go to war in order to
accomplish
Secretary POWELL. The President hasnt asked for any
authority
Senator SARBANES [continuing]. Compliance with those resolu-
tions?
Secretary POWELL. The President has not linked authority to go
to war to any of those elements. The President has asked for
Senator SARBANES. Its right in the resolution. You have all these
Whereass where you enumerate these resolutions, and then you
say, The President is authorized to use all means that he deter-
mines to be appropriate, including force, in order to enforce the
United Nations Security Council resolutions referenced above. And
the ones that are referenced above are all of them. And all of them
encompass illicit trade outside the oil for foodaccounting for the
missing, et cetera, et cetera.
So you want the authority to use force to carry out those resolu-
tions. Is that correct?
Secretary POWELL. Yes, he wants the authority to use force to
carry out those resolutions where he believes force is the appro-
priate way to get implementation of those resolutions. I think it
unlikely that the President would use force if he complied with the
weapons of mass destruction conditions. It seems very unlikely,
then, that he would be using force to comply with any of the other
resolutions.
Senator SARBANES. But you want the authority to use the force
even if he complies with the weapons of mass destruction resolu-
tion. You want the authority to go beyond that to all the other reso-
lutions. Is that correct?
Secretary POWELL. The President was putting the case forward
that all of these resolutions produce a pattern of misbehavior and
material breach that he wanted the authority to deal with in a way
that he thought appropriate.
Senator SARBANES. So if they comply with the weapons of mass
destruction, but not the others, you want the authority to be able
to use force to compel compliance with the others. Is that correct?
Secretary POWELL. Thats the way the resolution is currently
worded, but we all know, I think, that the major problem, the of-
fense, what the President is focused on and the danger to us and
to the world are the weapons of mass destruction.
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Senator SARBANES. Why did you word it this way? I mean, you
worded this resolution. Were trying to examine it, and we see a
broad reach of authority here.
Which leads me to my next point. I want to ask, who prepared
the preemptive doctrine here in this National Security Strategy?
Whos the author of this document?
Secretary POWELL. Its an administration document, and we all
participated in it.
Senator SARBANES. Well, I know, but someone must be the re-
sponsible person for
Secretary POWELL. The actual pulling it together was done in the
National Security Council, but we all participated in it. I had au-
thors working on it. Others had authors working on it.
Senator SARBANES. So, I mean, this is your document.
Secretary POWELL. It is the Presidents document.
Senator SARBANES. And this notion of a preemptive strike, you
dont regard that as a departure from past AmericanI know you
spoke earlier, Well, you know, weve done preemption under cer-
tain circumstances. I think the example you used was a strike
against a chemical plant.
Secretary POWELL. There are many others I could use.
Senator SARBANES. Yes. But when have we ever launched a war
against another country on this basis?
Secretary POWELL. Where does that document say were going to
launch a war against a country? What it says is that there is a new
threat that is different from the threats we have engaged in the
past. Deterrence and containment, as strategies, has not gone
away. Preemption has always been a tool available to a President,
not just in this administration, but throughout military history.
I would say that when we launched an attack against Panama
the 20th of December, 1989, it was a form of preemption, because
we were afraid that Noriega would be killing more American citi-
zens, other than the ones that he killed. And the specific context
of preemption there is that when youre dealing with terrorist
threatsit is written almost exclusively around terrorist threats
when dealing with terrorist threats of the kind we saw on the 20th,
or excuse me, on 9/11, threats of that nature, preemption rises
higher in our hierarchy of options because they tend not to beter-
rorists tend not to be deterred or contained in the way that states
are deterred and contained.
The chapter also concludes with some discussion about the fact
that this is not to be entered into lightly and one should look for
other alternatives, and it should be done with the most serious con-
sideration.
Senator SARBANES. Well, Mr. Chairman, my times up. Id just
close with this observation. Every article about it, about the doc-
trine youve put out, has language such as this: Bush Details Pre-
emptive Strike Policy Under New Security Plan, U.S. Will Attack
Nations, Groups That Pose Threats, Will Act Alone If Necessary,
and thats just out of one newspaper. Theyre all saying the same
thing.
Now, you sort of addressed it to and tried to put it in a different
context, but a lot of people are either misinterpreting you or per-
ceiving it as it is, and Im not sure which is the case yet. But it
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The CHAIRMAN. Thank you for your candor. And I hope the State
Department, which is very good at coming up with phrases, comes
up with a new word for nation-building, because thats what were
going to be doing.
The Senator from Wisconsin.
Senator HAGEL. Mr. Chairman, if I might add, I dont think the
concern about nation-building comes out of the State Department.
The CHAIRMAN. No, it doesnt. No, no. But maybe they can be
helpful with the White House to come up withI wasnt imply-
ingyou had a
Secretary POWELL. I know you werent.
The CHAIRMAN. We may need a word, though.
Senator FEINGOLD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Id like to thank you, Mr. Secretary, for being here today to dis-
cuss United States policy toward Iraq, and I welcome the oppor-
tunity.
For months, the administration has continued to rachet up the
rhetoric on Iraq, and, as weve already talked about, last week sent
proposed language authorizing the use of force to the Congress. It
is high time that this committee had the opportunity to hear a bit
about just what is being proposed and what the implications are
for our national security and foreign policy priorities.
And I think this is especially true because, Ive got to say, that
because months into this debate I think we still lack clarity on a
number of points. I think were hearing shifting justifications for
taking military action in Iraq now. Part of this was illustrated by
Senator Sarbanes listing of the different possible justifications, vis-
a-vis Security Council resolutions, some of which Im quite certain
this country would not invade Iraq in order to enforce.
The same thing goes for the sort of intermittent popping up of
the claim that Iraq and al-Qaeda were in league on 9/11. Yester-
day, the Secretary of Defense basically asserted that. When some-
one asked the press secretary of the President whether or not that
was the case, he said, Well, they could get together. So the trou-
ble is, Mr. Secretary, its unsettling to get this feeling that there
are really shifting justifications for what is being contemplated
here.
We still know very little about precisely what mission is being
proposed and what kind of commitments the American people are
being asked to make. And so I, for one, given where were at at this
point, am very reluctant to support any resolution without clarity
on these critical issues.
As you know, I have tremendous respect for you, though, Sec-
retary Powell, and I take your views very seriously, and thats why
Im very pleased that we have the chance to talk to you today.
Mr. Secretary, the administration has asked for the authority to
use force in Iraq. Actually, the administration has asked for au-
thority to use force throughout the region, but we are talking about
Iraq today. What is the mission being proposed? Is it disarmament?
Are we proposing to do that? Or is it regime change? How does re-
gime change relate to the problems of weapons of mass destruc-
tion? Or is it enforcement of U.N. resolutions? Which mission is it?
Secretary POWELL. The President hopes that it will be possible
to solve this problem and deal with this crisis with military force
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what I think you and I agreed was really the core idea of what the
mission here is.
Secretary POWELL. I think theres a danger that we might not be
able to get to every site that contains weapons of mass destruction
or the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction. The intel-
ligence is not that perfect. But you can be sureand here I dont
want to get into military planning or options, and its really the
role of Secretary Rumsfeld and General Myers. But Im quite sure,
in any contingency planning thats going on in the Pentagon, the
securing of those sites and disarmament is a major element of mili-
tary planning.
Senator FEINGOLD. Finally, the Iraqi people have suffered ter-
ribly from years of deprivation, and theyve been consistently and,
I think, falsely told that it is American support for sanctions that
is responsible for their plight. If widespread civil conflict breaks out
in the wake of military action, a significant military presence obvi-
ously might be required for some time, particularly, again, given
the existence of weapons of mass destruction in the country.
What do you think is the kind of reaction we can expect from the
Iraqi people if the United States moves to invade and then, for
some period, has to actually occupy their country?
Secretary POWELL. This is a very important question on which
there are many points of view. Some suggest that the Iraqi people
will be delighted to see the end of this regime. This regime has
suppressed its minorities, violated the human rights of its citizens,
and not made good use of the resources that it has to better the
lives of its people, but instead has used those resources for war and
development of weapons of mass destruction.
I think a good argument can be made that the removal of this
regime would be greeted warmly by the people as long as they felt
a better life was awaiting them and that a different kind of govern-
ment would be coming in that would take care of their needs and
not the needs of a dictator intent on the kind of aggression that
Saddam Hussein has been intent upon.
Others argue that the very fact that it would be non-Arabs or
Americans coming in to take control for awhile of an Arab country
might be a difficult problem for the population. I think
Senator FEINGOLD. But, Mr. Secretary, whats your view?
Secretary POWELL. I think that if the operation was done with
dispatch, was done quickly, and the Nation was clearly put on a
path of the kind that I described earliergetting rid of the weap-
ons of mass destruction, putting in place a representative govern-
ment, making it clear, as history demonstrates, the United States
does not come to stay. The United States comes to help, it comes
to build, and then leaves. We have no territorial ambitions or any
motives of aggrandizementthen I think this probably would be
received with pleasure by the people of Iraq.
Senator FEINGOLD. Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary.
The CHAIRMAN. Senator Hagel.
Senator HAGEL. Mr. Chairman, thank you.
Mr. Secretary, thank you for coming today. I want to first thank
you also for your steady leadership through this process. This has
not been a simple challenge, and I dont believe it gets any easier,
and you understand that. But I think I speak for this country, and
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I think I can speak for the world, we are glad you are where you
are and we appreciate it, and the team that you have backing you
up, your ambassadors and all, who are part of your operation. So
thank you.
Secretary POWELL. Thank you, Senator.
Senator HAGEL. I also want to say that I was very pleased to
learn that it appears now that Assistant Secretary Kelly is going
to North Korea. I know that is hourly and that could yet change.
But, as you know, we have had some discussion about axis of evil
and the countries, and I think the direction that we appear to be
headed here is the responsible direction.
I had an opportunity to be briefed by the Japanese Ambassador
here the last couple of days as I know you have, and the President
has by the Japanese Prime Minister about this. And Iraq obviously
seeps into everyones conversation regardless what the issue is.
I want to take the time I have to frame up a general question
for you, Mr. Secretary, one that some of us have been concerned
about; its been dismissed by some. And that is maybe that the gen-
eral area of the possibility of a ripple effect in the Middle East,
South Asia, Central Asia, focusing on, a bit on the Israeli situation,
the Israeli-Palestinian problem, what kind of an effect this could
have, short-term, long-term, if, in fact we invade Iraq with a coali-
tion. And followup questions that we have discussed here, how long
the United States would have to stay in Iraq.
I know they are all subjective. You cannot calibrate it precisely.
But I think this committee, certainly this Senator, would be very
interested in having you address that. You obviously have had to
think through this a little bit as to some of the what ifs. What
if we get into a little more than we thought? What if Saddam Hus-
sein throws some Scuds with biological/chemical-tipped warheads
and all these things that youve had to think throughnot just the
Defense Department, but youve had to think through them. You
went through that once.
And also in connection with that, maybe you could go a little
deeper in your response to Senator Sarbanes as he quoted you back
about the United States wholeheartedly committed to reconstruc-
tion.
A plan. How far are we along the way with a plan? I know what
youve said, and I hear it from the administration, We want a de-
mocracy and democratic institutions. You said today that it most
likely wont be a U.S. model in the first year. We accept that. But
is there any plan? Whos working on something? Identify for me
who is out there as to who we can go to to help us on the ground.
I know Ive thrown a lot at you, but take it in any sequence you
like.
Thank you.
Secretary POWELL. With respect to the Middle East peace situa-
tion that you touched on, I think that it is important that during
this period of tension and buildup we do everything we can to keep
the Middle East peace process on track. Were working very hard
on this, Senator Hagel. We had good meetings in New York last
week with Arab leaders with the quartet. And for the first time in
a long time in the presence of the quartet, we brought in represent-
atives of the Israeli Government and the Palestine Authority. We
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had a rather energized debate, let me put it that way. And we have
seen some progress with respect to transformation within the Pal-
estinian Authority and some other things happening. Some slow
progress, but I was encouraged by that progress.
Unfortunately, as so often happens in that part of the world, the
events of the last week and the situation at the Muqatta once
again, with the Israeli ringing of it, has been a very unhelpful de-
velopment, and were working hard to see if we can break this
siege once again and get back on a positive track and not con-
stantly be sliding back down the hill.
It is important for us to do everything we can to stabilize that
part of the world and show progress, regardless of what else is
going on, but especially in light of what might be going on in Iraq.
There is also no doubtthere is no love lost for Saddam Hussein
in any of the countries in the region. They recognize that he is one
of the biggest destabilizing elements in the whole region and that
a different kind of regime in Iraq would be quite welcome. They are
not unmindful of the fact that the two invasions hes conducted in
the last 20 years have been against neighbors. And they would like
to see that kind of a change, but they are uneasy about how that
change comes about and whether it will be in a way that further
destabilizes the region. So itll be a time of great tension.
But I think if such an operation becomes necessary, that if it is
done with dispatch, with efficiency, and with a clear sense of pur-
pose and determination to bring this to an end, it will generate
support and we can deal the other issues of uncertainty, such as
the Middle East peace plan and concerns that might exist in the
Arab street.
With respect to Scuds and how they may be used against neigh-
boring countries, it is an issue Ive faced before for real. We went
into the Desert Storm conflict quite confident they would use chem-
ical weapons. They did not. We were expecting it. And we knew
they had radiological capability and biological capability, and we
prepared ourselves for that. And they did fire Scuds at neighbors,
and we dealt with that. And we are thinking through the con-
sequences of potential responses from neighbors, and all that is
part of our calculus.
And on your last point, the plan for reconstruction, there are
task forces at work. Theres a task force in my department. Were
working with the Defense Department, National Security Council,
and others. And as that work progresses, I think there will be op-
portunities to share that work with the Congress. As you can ap-
preciate, its quite sensitive and compartmentalized at the moment.
Senator HAGEL. Ive got the little yellow timing light here.
It was referenced recently by a member of your administration
that one of the areas that we could count on if we invaded Iraq was
to use Jordanian areas. Can you talk about that? It was my under-
standing that that was still pretty iffy.
Secretary POWELL. I think I would rather yield to my colleagues
in the Defense Department who might be having more direct con-
versations of this nature, and I would not want to speak for the
Jordanian Government in this
Senator HAGEL. Has King Abdullahs position shifted publicly on
this? The last I knew
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where it was 12 years ago. I would guess its about perhaps 30 per-
cent of its30 to 40 percent of its size and certainly of its effective-
ness. Its weapons of mass destruction, we destroyed a lot. The in-
spectors did great work.
Sometimes people talk down to the inspectors about the wonder-
ful work they did for a period of 7 years. They helped with intel-
ligence and helped with defectors who gave them information, but
then they were thrown out and we dont know whats been reconsti-
tuted over the last 3 to 4 years. So there is still the threat of weap-
ons of mass destruction being used in any new conflict.
Senator CHAFEE. It seems to me then that if the threat is lesser,
were having to horsewhip our allies into a coalition, the Arab
friends and neighbors in the region
Secretary POWELL. Yes.
Senator CHAFEE [continuing]. Are all saying, Dont do it.
Secretary POWELL. The coalition just
Senator CHAFEE. Madeleine Albright said, This is a mistake.
And all you have to do is run your hand over the black granite at
the Vietnam Memorial to see what mistakes do.
Secretary POWELL. The coalition just didnt snap together on the
first day of the conflict back in 1990. It took a lot of hard work.
It took a lot of discussion and a lot of hard work on the part of Sec-
retary Baker, then-Secretary of Defense Cheney, yours truly, as
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and, above all, President
Bush and the other members of the Cabinet, to bring that coalition
into being. And we are working in that same vein now. Thats why
President Bush took it to the United Nations on the 12th of Sep-
tember. He didnt go to the United Nations on the 12th of Sep-
tember to issue a declaration of war. It was a declaration of pur-
pose, Weve got to do something about this.
And, yes, there are these dangers in the region that Secretary
Albright spoke of, but we believe one of the greatest dangers in the
region right now is the danger of this individual being able to
thumb his nose once again at the United Nations, and the United
Nations doing nothing about it, and his intent, unchanged, to con-
tinued to develop weapons of mass destruction. And we may not be
able to keep him in his box forever. We might not be able to con-
tain him forever. We cant continue to take the risk of him coming
out of that box or him showing up one day with the capability that
threatens his neighbors or threatens our interests or threatens us
directly, or his working with terrorist organizations which threaten
us directly.
Senator CHAFEE. Before my time runs out, I know Senator Kerry
talked about it. Isnt that all the more reason to have more time
on debate on this and
Secretary POWELL. Well, I think
Senator CHAFEE [continuing]. Giving the time for the
Secretary POWELL. I think we are having that debate now, both
here in the United States and in the United Nations. WereI
mean, I havent spentIve been doing nothing for the last 2 weeks
since the Presidents speech but working thisyes, I have been
doing other things, let me not sell myself short, others will do that
for me.
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But this certainly has been a priority for me for the last several
weeks.
Senator CHAFEE. Youre terrific. Thank you.
The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Secretary, do you need a break?
Secretary POWELL. No, Im fine.
The CHAIRMAN. OK. And if youd like a cup of coffee or
something
Secretary POWELL. Im great.
The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Secretary, you know better than I do that
whenI guess it was, I dont knowSenator Lugar or Senator
Hagel were talking about the, sort of the artificial construct of this
country named Iraq after 1921. This country, and I know you know
this, but make sure I get it rightis divided Arab, Indo-Euro-
peanthat is, Kurdsand the rest of the population is Arab. Arab
population is split Sunni and Shia. Kurds, non-Arabs, are Sunnis.
Sixty percent of the population is essentially in the southeastern
part between the Tigris and the Euphrates, generally.
The Shia, there are 600,000 to 700,000, based on, I think, your
Departments estimates, Shia in Iran right now as displaced refu-
gees. Do we have any senseIm not suggesting you should know,
but do we have any sense whether or not if Saddam were gone,
theyd come back? Do we have the problem and opportunity of
600,000-700,000 people moving back across the border, and all that
that entails, good and bad? And do we have any sense of whether
or not theyll come back looking to settle scores with the roughly
20 percent of the Arab Sunni population, which is the Baath, the
essence of the Baath Party?
In my discussions, and weve all had them over the years, with
the Iraqi National Congress, there are real deep disagreements. Do
we have any sense of what this diaspora of Shia in Iran, particu-
larly, are likely toanything about their attitudes, about democ-
racy, or their attitudes about a united Iraq. Can you talk to us
about that?
Secretary POWELL. I dont know, Senator. I havent seen any data
on attitudes or whether we have done any analysis of that or poll-
ing of that population. Ill have to look at that. If we have, Ill pro-
vide it for the record.
The CHAIRMAN. Now, you may not be able to answer the question
in public, but we all know from our individual interfacing with for-
eign leaders that the Turks are very concerned about the Kurds.
We also know that the Kurds, some Kurds, kind of like it just the
way it is. This is as close to an autonomous republic that they have
had since 1921. And we know that not all Kurds, but a number of
Kurds, still harbor a desire for a Kurdistan, which, I know you
know this, the map is very smallbut which goes well into Turkey
and into Iran. Are we going to have to make any commitments to
the Turks that the Kurds arent going to know about? Or are we
going to have to make any commitments or lay down the law to the
Kurds before we enlist the Turks?
In other words, everybody weve spoken to, military, non-mili-
tary, says this operationand you are one of the most well-known
military men; you dont think that way anymore, but you areev-
erybody tells us that without Turkeys participation or accommoda-
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ful for our willingness to stand up for what we believe in. They are
appreciative of our efforts to break down trading barriers and to
expand the circle of economic liberalization and to talk about
human rights.
We spend a great deal of time saying, well, we havent made
enough progress in the Middle East, or, we have this Iraq problem,
but we dont spend enough time talking about rapprochement and
the strong relationship weve built with Russia, strong relationship
were building with China, our successes with respect to free trade
agreements and how the Presidents going to trade promotion au-
thority. We dont talk enough about the Presidents leadership with
respect to HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. We dont talk
enough about the African Growth and Opportunity Act expanded.
And so we have got a lot of good things going on. We dont talk
enough about how we got a Treaty of Moscow and we put the ABM
Treaty in the past, and were still going to cut ballistic missiles
pointed at each other by some 60 or 70 percent, all without destroy-
ing the strategic framework. Yet everybody last year resented the
United States even thinking in these terms. Well, we pulled it off
and we got a good agreement with the Russians, which I trust this
body will ratify in the not-too-distant future.
And so weve got a lot of good things going on that occasionally
dont get talked about because were focusing on the crisis of the
moment, which is the way it is and the way things tend to be
looked at. But we have had a number of foreign policy successes.
There are a number of initiatives underway. And if you occupy the
position of leadership that the United States does, you must assert
it. You must lead. Thats what President Bush is doing. And I
think we will be showing to the world that success comes from such
assertive, responsible behavior working with our friends and allies.
Senator LUGAR. Mr. Chairman, I think that the NATO nations
that listen to what the Secretary just said will be heartened by
that. I appreciate your being that explicit and comprehensive.
Mr. Chairman, I just want to offer a word of congratulations
and maybe Im historically inaccurate, so you may check the record.
But I think there has not been an authorization bill for the State
Department that passed both houses and was conferred upon and
signed by the President since 1986.
Secretary POWELL. See, another foreign policy success that I
wasnt even going to take credit for.
Senator BIDEN. But whose is it?
Senator LUGAR. But congratulations.
The CHAIRMAN. Im sure the President is responsible for that.
Secretary POWELL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, seriously. Mr.
Chairman, that bill cleans up a lot of things and gives us a lot to
work with, and we really are appreciative.
The CHAIRMAN. We had a lot of help.
Senator Sarbanes. Oh, Im sorry. Senator Nelson. I beg your par-
don.
Senator SARBANES. I dont think you had a turn, did you?
Senator NELSON. Not yet.
The CHAIRMAN. I beg your pardon. Sorry.
Senator NELSON. Mr. Secretary, we have a downed American
pilot from the gulf war. You and I have talked about this. Since I
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have spoken to you, I have spoken to every leader that I can get
my hands on from the gulf region asking them to task their intel-
ligence apparatus to see if they can get any information. Indeed,
Captain Scott Speichers status has been changed by the Depart-
ment of Defense from killed in action to missing in action. And
there is some consideration right now of perhaps changing his sta-
tus to missing-captured, because there was a credible live sighting
of Captain Speicher alive being driven to the hospital by a defector
who was deemed credible.
So I would just encourage youSenator Pat Roberts of Kansas
and I and Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire are the ones that
have been involved, mainly. Captain Speicher is from Jacksonville.
His family is there. Theres a wife and children and you can imag-
ine the agony theyre going through. So as we are getting ready to
do an inspection regime on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, I
would encourage you to press the issue of the missing American
pilot, as well.
Secretary POWELL. Senator, you should have no doubt about
that. I think I mentioned it in my prepared testimony. Im in close
touch with Secretary Rumsfeld and Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz,
who has a personal interest in this and monitors it, and there were
some developments earlier this week that I spent time on and,
through intermediaries, was in touch with the family, so we take
it very, very seriously and we watch it very closely and it will
never be far from our mind. He went down when I was chairman,
and Ill never forget it.
Senator NELSON. Thank you.
Could you help me understand how what is being trumpeted as
a preemptive doctrine is any different from how weve always oper-
ated, that the President clearly has the authority, as Commander
in Chief, to act if its in the interest of the United States, to protect
the United States?
Secretary POWELL. Well, I agree with you, Senator, and I had a
chance to talk about this a little bit earlier, but I would like to say
another word about it. In the National Security Strategy, what we
attempted to convey with that language was that traditional means
of deterrence and containment that worked against state actors
the Soviet Union, China, otherswhen you look at what happened
to us on 9/11, we were struck by a terrorist group, not by a state
actor, by a terrorist group that didnt come out to fight us in the
field of battle, but sent in suicide bombers.
And so it is a different kind of threat. And as we look at the tools
available to us to deal with this threat, one of the tools that we
have to be able to use are preemption tools. When if we see this
kind of attack coming at us, then the act of preemption or taking
preemptive action should be something we consider and perhaps
consider it more readily than we might have in the past.
I have reread that chapter a number of times since seeing all the
press speculation and all the editorials being written on how it rep-
resents a revolutionary new doctrine, and I, frankly, dont find it
revolutionary. I find it sensible.
The reason its focused on so heavily in that particular section of
the National Security Strategy, it was an effort on the Presidents
part and the authors part to explain to people why this new threat
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has now been elevated in our thinking and how preemption, there-
fore, also has to be elevated in our thinking. But it is a tool that
we have always had and we have used in the past and were using
today as we try to preempt their financial systems and we try to
preempt their movements, we try to preempt their activities
around the world. All of the arrests that are taking place now are
good, solid preemptive actions.
Preemption may well rise to be a military action at some point.
But the purpose of that section was not to be as revolutionary as
it has been portrayed, but to elevate the concept of preemption in
our thinking and in our strategic discussions.
Senator NELSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The CHAIRMAN. Senator Hagel.
Senator HAGEL. Mr. Chairman, thank you.
Mr. Secretary, you have, Im sure, noted over the last couple of
months and may well have had personal contact with your friends
and former colleagues, General Zinni, Schwartzkopf, Clark, Joe
Hoar, Shalikashvili, others, about their reservations about going to
war in Iraq. You obviously have high regard for their judgment.
You served with them. Some have testified before this committee.
Some have testified before the Armed Services Committee. All have
spoken out publicly on their concerns and reservations. Would you
care to address those concerns in any way you like?
Secretary POWELL. These are old friends and colleagues of mine,
and we all served together in one capacity or another, and I would
expect them to put forward concerns and reservations.
This would be a daunting military operation. I dont accept the
premise that its going to be a cakewalk. No sensible military offi-
cer would go into any operation thinking its going to be a cake-
walk. And so I think it was useful of them to put down their per-
spective.
And you can be sure that my colleagues in the Pentagon and
those who took over for me when I retired and left the uniform un-
derstand what will be required if asked to do this. But I dont think
one of them would say that it is an impossible mission or that dif-
ficult, really, if you put your mind to it and you put the resources
to it.
We have to be mindful of the day-after scenario that weve been
talking about, and it will probably require a fairly significant com-
mitment of troops to manage and occupy Iraq until such time as
you can turn it over. That, I think, is a daunting problem, as well.
And you can be sure that their concerns, their reservations, and
their points of view are being considered. And I have respect for
their points of view.
Senator HAGEL. Thank you.
Can you tell this committee what kind of progress we have made,
our country, in enlisting Arab country support in our efforts here
if, in fact, the option is a military option?
Secretary POWELL. The Arab countries have had reservations,
and they have made public statements, and theyve also made pri-
vate statements. Id rather not get into the specifics of each coun-
try, but let me make this overall observation. A lot has changed
since the Presidents speech on the 12th of September. A lot has
changed once the President put the case out publicly and we
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stopped all the dueling op-ed pieces and the dueling leaks and all
the other things that were happening in August. Once the Presi-
dent put the case down clearly and asked the U.N. for action, that
changed a number of attitudes among our Arab friends.
Senator HAGEL. Back to the issue on opposition forces, wherever,
however they be and what role they may play. I noted here in the
paper we are now engaged or soon will be engaged in training some
form of opposition force. I think some of the terms used is scouts
and other descriptions. What do you know about that? Where are
they coming from? Is this a Northern Alliance kind of an effort?
Are they there? Where are they? Why didnt we know about them
before?
Secretary POWELL. Senator, no decisions have been made yet, but
there is certainly a great deal of planning underway as referenced
in newspapers. But I would really prefer to yield to my colleagues
in the Pentagon in a closed session to get into the details of this.
Senator HAGEL. OK.
Back to the issue of the resolution questions that were asked
and maybe you said this and I didnt hear itthe current back and
forth and negotiation, if thats whats going onmost of us are not
aware of itare you involved in that? Do you have a representative
involved in that day to day negotiation with the language
Secretary POWELL. I havent been involved in the day to day dis-
cussions that may be taking place between the administration and
Members of Congress on the resolution. We all were involved in the
preparation of the resolution oralthough it came out the White
House signed out by the Presidents Counsel, Mr. Gonzalez, I be-
lieve. Im quite confident that as Congress decides what changes it
believes are appropriate to the resolution and the President con-
siders those changes, that we will have a chance to weigh in as to
the impact that those changes would have on anything were doing
diplomatically.
I would just reinforce, however, that I believe its important that
action be taken on a resolution quickly as a way of showing unity
of purpose within the U.S. Government. That would be helpful to
me in my diplomatic efforts with the U.N.
Senator HAGEL. Well, obviously, my implication there, and you,
Im sure, follow itand I have nothing against lawyers. Ive got one
in the family, actually, one of my brothers.
Secretary POWELL. Me too.
Senator HAGEL. And you do, too. But one per family should be
sufficient. And I apologize to Sarbanes and Biden on this point, but
I dont think framing up the verbiage in an intent of going to war
should be left to the Presidents Counsels office, and I am con-
cernedmaybe only I am concerned about that. Its important that
the people who are going to have to implement this and carry out
whatever it is the lawyers decide is the right way to do it be part
of that, as well as you.
And the other thing that concerns me about the resolution is
this, I think, is the same office who had counseled the President
that he doesnt need any involvement by the Congress to go to war
in Iraq. And so if youd care to comment on that, Im sure we would
welcome any thoughts you have.
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this in a way that I think will answer your question and reassure
Congress that were doing the best we can not to strain our credi-
bility. That is not in our interest and that is not our intention.
Senator HAGEL. Thank you.
The CHAIRMAN. I was at such a briefing. I cant comment on it
except just for the record to show I dissent from the characteriza-
tion of the Secretary of Defense.
Senator Sarbanes.
Senator SARBANES. Mr. Secretary, I wasnt clear earlier whether
you were suggesting that the Congress had adopted a decision sup-
porting the use of military force to achieve regime change.
Secretary POWELL. No, I was saying that inI dont have the
public law in front of me, but the Congress did adopt a position
with respect to a regime change.
Senator SARBANES. For the use of military force?
Secretary POWELL. I dont have the law in front of me, so I dont
want to say what was contained within that public law.
Senator SARBANES. Well, thats the Iraq Liberation Act
Secretary POWELL. Yes.
Senator SARBANES [continuing]. Of 1998, I presume, and that
was an effort to try to give a boost to the Iraqi opposition and is
stated as a policy to remove the regime. But that law, at the very
end of itdo you have it thereoh, I thought you were looking
Secretary POWELL. No, I dont think so.
Senator SARBANES. Well, at the very end of it, it says, Nothing
in this Act shall be construed to authorize or otherwise speak to
the use of United States Armed Forces, except as provided in Sec-
tion 4(a)(2) in carrying out this Act. And 4(a)(2), the sectionthe
exception sectiondealt with providing military draw-downs to
provide aid to this Iraqi opposition. But theres not been, to my
knowledge, at least, any authorization by the Congress for the
President to use force to achieve regime change.
Secretary POWELL. I would have to review my own transcript of
earlier this afternoon. I dont recall that I said that. What I said
was that the Congress and the Clinton administration and then the
Bush administration, over a period from 1998 on, have established
that it is the policy of the U.S. Government, as it says here in Sec-
tion III, should be the policy of the United States, to support ef-
forts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power
in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government,
the Iraqi Liberation Act.
Senator SARBANES. Right.
Secretary POWELL. Imbedded in that was the intent to support
opposition forces to this end.
Senator SARBANES. Yes.
Secretary POWELL. But it became the policy of the U.S. Govern-
ment, as expressed in this act, and I thinkI dont know if its in
other acts or notand it became, it was a policy that was enun-
ciated by President Clinton.
Senator SARBANES. But also imbedded in that act is the section
I read to you
Secretary POWELL. Yes, it is.
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When we see a real and present danger that is coming our way and
we can do something about it, then why should not the President
do something about it to protect the American people?
Senator SARBANES. Unilaterally
Secretary POWELL. I think the American people understand that.
Senator SARBANES. Unilaterally do something about it?
Secretary POWELL. Sir?
Senator SARBANES. Unilaterally do something about it?
Secretary POWELL. Maybe its unilaterally, maybe
Senator SARBANES. Do other
Secretary POWELL [continuing]. Its not unilaterally.
Senator SARBANES [continuing]. Do other nations
The CHAIRMAN. Senator?
Senator SARBANES [continuing]. Can other
The CHAIRMAN. Senator?
Senator SARBANES [continuing]. Do other nations have recourse
to the same line of thinking?
Secretary POWELL. There is no nation that should not have re-
course to a line of thinking when a threat is coming its way. Its
inherent in the sovereignty of a nation to protect itself.
The CHAIRMAN. One of the problems
Secretary POWELL. If we sawif we were able to spotwell I
dont want to get into anecdotal stuff, the Japanese fleet sailing on
Pearl Harbor and knew what was going to happen and knew what
was coming our way, preemption would have been a very sound
policy, in my judgment, if the President had enough information
and if he could present to the world, before or after the fact, why
he did it and make the case for it. It seems to me thats the kind
of thing you would have done.
Senator SARBANES. I dont find that analogy really on all fours.
The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Secretary
Secretary POWELL. Yes?
The CHAIRMAN. One of the problems of having a powerful chair-
man of another committee on your committee is he thinks hes
chairman of that committee, too.
And the only prerogative of being the chairman is you get to ask
the last question, at least I thought it used to be. At any rate
Senator SARBANES. I yield to the chairman.
The CHAIRMAN. I thank you. After 20 minutes, he yields to me.
But I love him, and he has good questions.
But let me ask you a concluding question here, because we only
have a few minutes left on this vote and Im sure you will not miss
being able to leave.
Im not looking for percentages, but can you tell us what the next
stages in your negotiations are, in your attempt to get a resolution
through the Security Council that has teeth in it on a different re-
gime of inspection? And ancillary to that, are you unalterably op-
posed, is the President unalterably opposed, to a two-step process?
Or need it be one-step?
Secretary POWELL. On the first question, within the last 24 hours
we came into agreement with the United Kingdom on what we
thought a good resolution looked like and should contain. And, as
I mentioned earlier, we are nowboth the United States and the
United Kingdom have begun consultations with the other perma-
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Question. What are the attitudes of the Shia diaspora in Iran about democracy
or about a united Iraq?
Answer. The State Department regularly meets with a variety of Iraqi Shia oppo-
sition groups, including the Tehran-based Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolu-
tion in Iraq. All of the predominantly Shia groups that we meet with consistently
express their support for a future democratic Iraq that has maintained its territorial
integrity. Additionally, we recently received a letter signed by 121 prominent Shia
independents, which highlights the historical commitment of Iraqi Shia to a unified
Iraqi state, and details the signatories commitment to a democratic Iraq.
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