Powell Cites 'Real' Divide Internally on Iraq Policy
Bush Decision Expected Soon As Aides Pursue a Consensus
Secretary of State Colin Powell is welcomed by South African officials upon his arrival in Pretoria. (Reuters)
URL: washingtonpost.com
By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 4, 2002; Page A01
JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 3 -- Secretary of State Colin L. Powell today acknowledged a fierce debate within the administration over a possible confrontation with Iraq but said that President Bush will soon "pull all these strings together" to conclude the debate, possibly next week.
Powell told reporters traveling with him to a U.N. development summit here that he had been working the phones with foreign officials in the past week to lay the groundwork for the president's impending decision. He said he had been trying to calm concerns about White House intentions and explore whether a new or enhanced U.N. inspections system would lead to elimination of Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons capabilities.
Perceived as the administration's moderate on Iraq, Powell often sidestepped questions about his personal views. Instead, he said the administration was working hard to reach a consensus. "It is a very serious issue and we are discussing it in a very serious way," he said, adding, "I think there are lots of differences -- some are real, some are perceived, some are overhyped."
Powell said he had not raised possible military scenarios in his conversations with foreign officials. But he made clear that a presidential decision could be expected shortly. "Now that the holiday period is over and all the European colleagues are back to work, and the United Nations General Assembly will be meeting next week," Powell said, "I think you will see the president will pull all these strings together" and firmly decide how to deal with Iraq.
Diplomatic maneuvering over that question continued as strong as ever today here and in other countries.
In Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair laid out forcefully his concerns, calling Iraq "a unique threat to the security of the region and to the rest of the world."
Foreign ministers of the 15-nation European Union, meanwhile, are moving forward with a plan that would bridge European differences with the United States over the advisability of military action. Under the plan, the U.N. Security Council would pass a resolution under which Iraq would have to re-admit weapons inspectors by a specific date or face being attacked.
Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader, declared that his country would prevail in any war with the United States -- "Victory is in the heart," he said in a letter to the Iraqi people read on state television. At the same time, his deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz, held open the possibility of re-admitting U.N. weapons inspectors in exchange for an end to U.N. economic sanctions.
At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said the administration has long favored a return of the weapons inspectors, who left Iraq four years ago. But he dismissed the offer from Aziz, saying he was "clearly doing the bidding of his master, Saddam Hussein."
Iraqi officials "have, over a good many years, demonstrated a wonderful talent and skill at manipulating the media and international organizations," Rumsfeld said. "When it's the right moment to lean forward, they lean forward. When it's the right moment to lean back, they lean back."
On Monday, former South African president Nelson Mandela expressed firm opposition to military action. Mandela said he had tried but failed to speak to Bush and had instead spoken with his father, the former president. "I asked him to speak to his son, and I have already spoken to Powell," Mandela said. "I have not given up trying to persuade the president not to attack Iraq."
White House officials have hinted that Bush will address the Iraq issue in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly, scheduled for the day after the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon. "I would not prejudge what the president will say next week, but obviously this is a very timely issue," Powell said.
Powell's whirlwind African trip -- he will visit South Africa, Angola and Gabon in just two days -- is designed to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the development issues being discussed at the U.N. summit, which is a follow-up to the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro 10 years ago.
The United States has been the subject of harsh criticism at the summit, in part because Bush is one of the few world leaders who chose not to attend and because other delegations contend that U.S. negotiators resisted deals on key development and environmental issues.
Powell will speak on Wednesday, the summit's last day, to argue that development involves not just direct aid, but a commitment to education, economics and the rule of law.
At the summit, the United States has actively promoted partnerships involving government, business and other private organizations to address problems of water, the environment and other issues. It argues that this is an effective way to leverage direct government aid.
On Wednesday, Powell also will hold discussions with officials from at least seven nations, including Turkey, Russia and Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union. He is scheduled to travel to Angola and Gabon on Thursday before returning to Washington.
Powell has been relatively quiet in recent weeks as other senior administration officials have stepped up their rhetoric against Hussein, and he initially appeared reluctant to brief reporters on the subject.
After reporters complained, he agreed to meet with them, bringing along a summit guest -- actor Chris Tucker, of the popular "Rush Hour" movie series. Powell joked that Tucker, who is making a comedy in which he will play a U.S. president, would conduct the briefing.
On Sunday, the BBC released excerpts from a Powell interview with David Frost suggesting that he viewed inspections as a "first step." Vice President Cheney, by contrast, scorned the idea of more inspections in two speeches last week, fueling speculation about disagreement within the administration.
In the briefing today, conducted aboard his official plane, Powell stressed points of agreement with Cheney, saying the vice president made the case "very powerfully and vividly that the inspections in and of themselves may not give you the assurance you need."
"The issue is not the inspectors, the issue is disarmament," Powell added. "Inspections are one way at getting at that question. Whether it's the only way or there are other ways that have to be used, to get at disarmament, is the debate we are having within the international community."
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