Washington: The Bush administration's plan of disarming Iraq by ousting Saddam
Hussein and effecting a regime change has been inherited from the previous Bill
Clinton government which was approved by the Congress, US Secretary of State Colin
Powell said, while denying any policy shift.
Clinton administration in 1998 adopted the policy of regime change as it was
the "the only way you are going to be able to get disarmament" in Iraq, Powell said
on March 8, adding Saddam's regime "will not do it (disarm) on its own, it will
never change its spots".
On the mission of regime change becoming the policy of Bush administration, Powell
told ABC television, "We inherited it, looked at it, and said this is still
sensible. We have no illusions about the nature of this regime or the nature of its
leader, Saddam Hussein."
Bush administration's principal objective in Baghdad was to eliminate its weapons of
mass destruction, he said, adding Iraqis would be "better off with a different
leader".
Asked whether March 17, the date the US-sponsored resolution has fixed as "the last
chance" for Saddam Hussein to disarm or face war, is a "magic date", Powell
said, "There is no magic about March 17. But, clearly, time is running out. We had
to draw a line. This just can't continue this way ad nauseam, and ad
infinitum."
Queried if he was expecting absolute compliance or co-operation from Iraq, Powell
said, "It is a judgement for the (UN Security) Council to make. And the inspectors
have a role to play. We did not say that we would expect them to turn in everything
on the 17th. That would be a bit too much. But I think the language is clear as to
the kind of performance we are expecting to see."
PTI
