Powell Promises to Scrutinize Clinton Policies

Powell Promises to Scrutinize Clinton Policies

NewsMax.com Wires
Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001

WASHINGTON (UPI) – Secretary of State-designate Colin Powell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday that he would take a hard look at the Clinton administration's efforts to warm relations with North Korea, work to regionalize Arab-Israeli peace talks, and continue to provide for Taiwan's defense.

"Peace for Israel means peace with all of her neighbors, Syria included, and we need to build on the opportunity created by Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon," Powell said.

The retired general called for vigilance in dealing with Iraq.

"The country needs to be ready to respond to provocations and [to be] utterly steadfast in our policy towards Saddam Hussein," he said. "We need to be supportive of opposition efforts."

Powell sounded what observers considered to be an unusually conciliatory note on Iran. He said that while he had policy differences with the Clinton administration on how to deal with Tehran, "these differences need not preclude greater interaction, whether in more normal commerce or increased dialogue." Powell said the Bush administration's national security team would be reviewing such possibilities.

The senators' tone at the hearing was unabashedly admiring, with committee chairman Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina announcing that he would address Powell as "Mr. Secretary" instead of "Mr. Secretary-designate."

Powell devoted a large part of his remarks to the new administration's African policy. He called the African Growth and Opportunity Act "one of the most important actions the Congress undertook this past year." Powell emphasized the importance of helping Nigeria's President Obasanjo to "hold his fragile democracy together."

Powell pledged to continue Plan Colombia, the Clinton administration's $1.23 billion package, consisting largely of military aid, for helping to combat drugs and terrorism in Colombia.

In reply to a question from Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., Powell said "an iron-clad deal" with North Korea on missile proliferation would factor into the Bush administration's decision on going forward with the national missile defense system.

The Clinton administration had been holding talks with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il aimed at persuading Pyongyang to halt its missile development. Last year, Kim Jong-il had told South Korean and Russian visitors that North Korea would be willing to stop making missiles in return for space rocket technology.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
North Korea
Bush Administration
China / Taiwan
Israel
Saddam Hussein / Iraq
Missile Defense