Interview on Radio Sawa

MR. NADER: The FBI warnings for expectations that terrorism may happen, is this wave of intelligence reports due to the UN Security Council on Iraq? Is this a reaction to that?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Before I respond, please allow me to wish your audio audience Ramadan Karim and express a wish that all of us will be able to have a very prosperous, healthy, happy and safe future.

On the question that you've just raised, it is not -- this threat alert is not -- a response to the UN Security Council resolution. It is a response to heightened indications that al-Qaida still wants to harm interests of the United States, and our friends and allies from the Gulf to this shore, and that's what the FBI is responding to.

MR. NADER: Mr. Secretary, does the US reserve the right to go to war without a report for a breach by Mr. Blix? Or do you need -- you don't need a resolution from Security Council to go to war with Iraq?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: President Bush made the determination that we would attempt to get a Security Council resolution which would bring home clearly to Saddam Hussein the need for him to disarm in the face of the entire international community's cry for that disarmament. But it has been our position that President Bush always has the ability to order military force to be used to protect this nation, if he deems it necessary.

So he does not need to go back to the United Nations Security Council resolution, but he has said he is certainly willing to go back and have a discussion and a consultation with the Security Council if we find Iraq in material breach.

MR. NADER: What is the US State Department planning now in case the regime is (inaudible) for the future of Iraq?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: If the regime is changed?

MR. NADER: Yes.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, there's --

MR. NADER: How is going to be ruled Iraq?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Oh, well, I don't know who's going to rule Iraq, but it will be ruled, we hope, in a fashion that will preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq, that will respect religious rights, human rights, respect the rule of law, be a nation that will not threaten its neighbors and will not possess weapons of mass destruction; in other words, an entirely better place to have as a neighbor.

MR. NADER: What is the impact of Syria's positive voting in the UN? What impact will this have on future relations with US?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, I think President Asad made a very enlightened decision when he allowed Syria to vote with the other members of the Security Council to make it very clear that none of us want war, and the way to avoid war is for Saddam Hussein to disarm, as he has pledged in the past to do. So it was a very enlightened decision.

As far as the impact of relations with the United States, it is, of course, seen as a positive gesture, and we appreciate it.

MR. NADER: Mr. Secretary, what are you doing to help Lebanon have this economic conference in Paris? Are you going to send a representative from the US to the conference?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: We will send a representative. We have not decided at what level or who exactly would go. I've had the honor of having several conversations and visits with Prime Minister Hariri. We know his views. We've consulted with our French friends about this and with our Japanese friends, and we will make the decision in the near future.

MR. NADER: Yesterday, you hosted the US-Israel strategic talks. Was the issue of the problem of the Wazzani water in Lebanon raised? And how do you expect this issue to be settled?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, water in the Middle East has always been a very serious matter, from biblical times on, so of course we raised this issue and we expressed the desire to have this settled responsibly and peacefully. The United States, as you know, is very involved in the Wazzani water situation and we will continue to try to narrow the differences between the two sides.

MR. NADER: Thank you so much.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you. My pleasure. Thank you.