Rumsfeld addresses security conference, comments on Iraq
(8 Feb 2003) 1. Wide shot of audience 2. Chairman 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Donald Rumsfeld, US Defence Secretary "Our coalition for the global war on terror today includes some 90 nations, almost half the world. It is the largest coalition in human history. We're fighting alongside old allies and new friends alike - whoops there's that word old again." 4. Wide shot of audience 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) US Defence Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld: "Clearly momentum is building, momentum that sends a critically important message to the Iraqi regime about the seriousness of purpose and the world's determination that Iraq disarm. Let me be clear: no one wants war, war is never a first or easy choice, but the risks of war to be balanced against the risks of doing nothing whilst Iraq pursues the tools of mass destruction." 5. Wide shot of audience 6. SOUNDBITE: (English) US Defence Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld: "In the North Atlantic Council in Brussels there was a proposal put forward not to deploy any NATO assets to Turkey but simply to begin the planning process so that in the event that Turkey was threatened that NATO could conceivably assist NATO countries and NATO could assist with PATRIOT defensive capability. NATO could provide AWACS and NATO could provide chemical and biological weapon detection capability. Nothing there is offensive, it's all defensive and I am told that that has been blocked for days in the NATO council by one or two, two countries, possibly - three countries. Three. Now I can't imagine doing that, it is beyond comprehension for me. How in the world can a NATO...(applause) 7. Wide shot of audience 8. SOUNDBITE: (English) US Defence Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld: "Turkey is an ally, Turkey is a member of the Alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty provides for this kind of thing and to prevent defensive capabilities - just the planning not even the deployment - from going to that country I think is inexcusable." 9. Wide shot of audience applauding STORYLINE: US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warned on Saturday that delaying preparations for war in Iraq could make that war more likely while undermining both the NATO alliance and the United Nations. Rumsfeld, who was addressing European security chiefs in Germany, said he did not understand why France, Germany and Belgium are holding up preparations for the alliance to protect Turkey against the threat of an Iraqi counterattack. He warned the alliance had a treaty obligation to defend Turkey, the only NATO ally that borders Iraq. NATO has to decide by Monday whether to order its military experts to plan for the deployment of early warning planes, missile defence batteries and specialized units to Turkey. France, Germany and Belgium have held up the NATO planning for three weeks, arguing that it could undermine UN efforts to avert a war. Anxious alliance officials fear continued refusal could do permanent damage to NATO. The Iraq crisis and the divisions it has caused among traditional allies dominated the annual security conference that has gathered together dozens of ministers, military top brass and defence experts from Europe, North America and Asia. Outside, 3,500 police deployed to protect the meeting from the expected of thousands of anti-war protesters, including militant anti-capitalist groups who have previously turned violent at such demonstrations. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
