NewsMax.com Staff
Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002

"It serves no U.S. or U.N. purpose to give Saddam Hussein excuses for further delay," Rumsfeld asserted.

Outlining the administration's case, Rumsfeld told the Committee: "No terrorist state poses a greater and more immediate threat to the security of our people and the stability of the world than the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq."

With much attention being focused on Iraq’s offer to allow weapons inspectors access, the secretary continued to make the administration’s case against Saddam Hussein, warning congressmen that weapons inspectors will not be effective enough to achieve the goal of disarming Iraq.

"Weapons inspections do have a place if they can be sufficiently intrusive to disarm a country," Rumsfeld said, adding that it is unlikely that a U.N. weapons inspection team would have much success in view of Saddam’s practice of concealing his weaponry.

"Even the most intrusive inspection regime would have difficulty getting at all of his weapons of mass destruction," he said.

"The goal isn't inspections, the goal is disarmament. That is what was agreed to" in the wake of the Gulf War, Rumsfeld recalled, cautioning "You can only have inspections when a country is cooperating with you."

Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., ranking member of the committee, told Rumsfeld the UNSCOM weapons inspections program since 1991, had achieved many successes in the early years uncovering Saddam's biological weapons program. Rumsfeld agreed, but added that the longer weapons inspectors were in Iraq, the more the Iraqi leadership learned how to disguise its weapons programs by tunneling deeper into the ground and adding more underground labs.

"Hundreds, not just two or three," Rumsfeld said.

"We are on notice. A [Saddam-abetted terrorist] attack very likely will be attempted," Rumsfeld warned. "The only question is when and by what technique - could be months, it could be a year, could be years, but it will happen," Rumsfeld said. "If it were to happen today, none of us would be able to say that it was a surprise.

"If someone is waiting for a smoking gun, it is certain that they waited too long,"

Rumsfeld said that Iraq had concealed evidence of its weapons programs in a labyrinth of tunnels and other elaborate hiding places, a strategy that would be certain to complicate and prolong any new inspection effort.

"Only certainty of U.S. and U.N. purposefulness can have even the prospect of affecting the Iraqi regime," Rumsfeld said. "It is important that Congress send that message as soon as possible — before the U.N. Security Council votes."

Outlining the administration's case, Rumsfeld told the House panel: "No terrorist state poses a greater and more immediate threat to the security of our people and the stability of the world than the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq."

But some members voiced skepticism about moving so quickly. "We must think carefully before we authorize the use of military force," said Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, the senior Democrat.

Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., asked what was wrong with agreeing to another round of inspections before waging war, so long as they were "robust and unfettered."

"The goal is not inspections, the goal is disarmament," Rumsfeld said. At another point, Rumsfeld asked tersely: "How many years does one want to pass?"

Rumsfeld said the Pentagon would have to call up more National Guard and Reserve forces if Bush decides to invade Iraq. More than 70,000 reservists have been called to active duty so far in the war on terrorism, and more than 20,000 soldiers in key specialties have been blocked from leaving active duty.

Rumsfeld conceded some U.S. allies in the region — including Israel — would be vulnerable to Iraqi counterattack in the event of strikes against Baghdad. He said such a period of vulnerability would likely be short, and said he hoped Israel could exercise the restraint it did during the Gulf War.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Bush Administration

Saddam Hussein/Iraq

War on Terrorism

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