Bullet points from Dep. Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz speaking at the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco today. Live! as I hear it on the radio.
Wolfowitz acknowledges the demonstrators outside, agrees that war is a terrible thing, but so are terrorist attacks.
A group of demonstrators try to shout him down before he can really get started.
Recall's George HW Bush's press conference on NATO after end of Cold War. Said that the purpose of NATO evolved to reach out to former Communist countries, including Russia, and to help overcome threat of "uncertainty".
NATO demonstrates that alliance built on common values has more staying power than an alliance built on convenience. Can also help shape response to global threat of terrorism.
Mentions British document outlining human rights abuses in Iraq, mentions Ritter's comments about Iraqi prison full of children of Saddam's political enemies.
Saddam rules by fear alone, when his people no longer fear him, he will fear them.
Still hopes for peaceful resolution.
Goal is not return of inspections, goal is disarmament.
Will that distract US from war on terror? No. Disarming Iraq is crucial part of war on terror.
It shouldn't be the responsible of the inspectors to discover, disclose, destroy all weapons of mass destruction. It is the responsibility of the Iraq to do this.
Let me repeat: We are trying to achieve the disarmament of Iraq, voluntarily or by force, that goal will be achieved.
Saddam will give them up voluntarily only if he thinks that is the only way for his regime to survive.
Only hope of achieving that outcome is confronting Iraq with a credible threat of force behind the diplomacy.
To those who say: let's wait until threat is imminent, he asks, when did Sept. 11 attacks become imminent? We can't afford to wait until last minute.
Says this a crucial time for Turkey. Turkey wants to join EU. The west must support Turkey as an example of a modern Islamic nation. Turkey is one of our most reliable and self-reliant allies
Saddam should make no mistake he is surrounded by the international community.
Praises Turkey's commitment to peace demonstrated by their peacekeeping efforts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Somalia, participation in Gulf War.
Most Turks in last election were casting votes for accountable government, NOT politicizing religion. new government rejects Islamist label, sees destiny in Europe.
Calls European leaders to embrace Turkey. Says Turkey's democratic values should be an example to Iraq.
Territorial integrity of Iraq should be maintained. Iraq will thrive when unleashed from Saddam's tyranny.
Closing: The security of the US must be foremost in our minds. People around the globe look to the US for leadership, in values, fighting terrorism. In maintaining our security keep the world secure. "Terrorism is biggest threat in our time"
Questions from Audience
How do we measure success of war on terrorism? Has anti-Americanism gone up or down, how does our Iraq policy affect that? How will we know war on terrorism is over?
Progress hard to measure. 2400 people off the streets is progress. End of Taliban is progress. War is fought by intelligence, law enforcement. Measured by threats blocked, people arrested.
Polling data on anti-Americanism not encouraging, but false to assume that we cause that. Alludes to (Saudi-funded) propaganda. Once Saddam tyranny is ended, which is inevitable, if we have a role in ending it we will be cheered.
Winning is also about building models in Muslim world that attract people away from terrorism.
Have we been had by Pakistan? There are reports that Pakistan has supplied North Korea with nuclear capabilities. What does that say about them as ally?
Some of this started before Pakistan became our ally. Musharraf has been very helpful. Need to work with them, recognizing that problems still exist.
Re: sanctions. Is Saddam guilty until proven innocent?
Given his track record, yes. It's his responsibility to give full disclosure. The stakes are enormous. this is not a game.
In the eleven years since the US army pushed the Iraqi army out of the northern third of Iraq to create an autonomous Kurdish area, the northern third has done much better than the Saddam controlled portion of Iraq. That should serve as a model for the rest of Iraq.
In the event of a chemical or biological attack by Saddam on Israel, what is Israel's likely response? Should the US have been more aggressive in achieving peace between Israelis, Palestinians?
US was as aggressive as it could have been. inevitable outcome: two separate states living side by side in peace. Most Israelis want peace. Last month was 25th anniversary of Sadat visit to Jerusalem. This created psychological breakthrough enable Israel to give up Sinai. Peace is out there to be achieved and not because of lack of America trying.
Saddam's use of chemical or biological weapons against Israel, other allies, or US itself is a real concern. Any Iraqi who knows about such weapons and doesn't come forward should be considered an accessory if such weapons are used.
Departure of dictator often leads to chaos. What are US plans to ensure that post-Saddam Iraq is mother of all quagmires?
Post-Saddam instability is misplaced concern. Saddam himself is source of instability. Without Saddam Iraq can have perhaps the best government in Arab world. Romania did not fall into chaos after Ceausescu. Post-Saddam Iraq can do at least as well as post-Ceausescu Romania.
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