Interview on Abu Dhabi TV

MR. ALAMI: Sir, the FBI has a warning of al-Qaida making some spectacular attacks. Bin Laden sent in a tape last week, or early this week. So, apparently, the war on terrorism is not over yet. Why this rush and start another front against Saddam Hussein?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, first of all, before I respond directly to your question, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish your viewers Ramadan Karim and to express the wish that all of us will have the type of future that we all deserve.

Specifically, your question about Usama bin Laden, we did receive a tape. It appears to be authentic, although US officials are not 100 percent sure yet. And the combination of the tape and the threats made on the tape and the information that has been received by ours and other intelligence agencies leads us to believe that we are in a heightened threat time, and we have to take these warnings very seriously.

MR. ALAMI: So it is wise, while taking this threat seriously, to open another front on Iraq?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, you or others could question the wisdom. Our President feels, and apparently many in the United Nations Security Council feel, that it is necessary to disarm Iraq before Iraq can again use weapons of mass destruction on her neighbors or she makes some liaison with terrorists who will use these weapons either against Iraq's neighbors or ourselves.

And I noticed that in the UN Security Council resolution, all 15 nations of the Security Council, including Syria, on the eve of an Arab League meeting, decided that the wisest course of action was to ask Saddam Hussein to disarm.

MR. ALAMI: The last visit of the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to town, the President left the impression that Israel has the right to defend itself if attacked by Saddam. What has changed since 1990-91? Under that scenario, Israel was asked not to respond if attacked by Saddam.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, in 1991, Israel showed a great deal of restraint during the Gulf War, even though she was attacked by many scud missiles. No one can ask a nation to give up the right of self-defense, and particularly when the future is unknown.

But what has changed is in the intervening ten years Saddam Hussein has continued to thumb his nose, not at the United States, but all the members of the United Nations Security Council, and, by inference, the entire body.

Regarding Israel's right of self-defense, it will always be there, but we hope and expect that Israel will again show restraint should she be threatened.

MR. ALAMI: One last question, Mr. Secretary. There are some demonstrations Tehran these days. What is your take on that? And you still believe that these young people will deliver ultimately the leadership in Tehran?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, what's important is not what I believe, nor, for that matter, what the United States believes. What's important is what the people of Iran believe.

And in this particular instance, of the demonstrations to which you refer, they are demonstrating in support of a gentleman who has been, we think, threatened with severe punishment and has also been flogged; and the death penalty in Iran, in this case, we feel is not warranted.

But I repeat again, what's important is what the people of Iran have to say about their future, and some of these young students appear to have some pretty strong views.

MR. ALAMI: Mr. Secretary, thank you so much. We appreciate it.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you very much.