Powell: The U.S. Is Not Seeking Military Action Against Iraq

Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated in interviews with Arab television networks that the U.S. is not seeking military action against Iraq, but reserves the right to do so if Baghdad fails to comply with the new United Nations resolution. Powell emphasized that Washington did not present this resolution as a pretext for military attack, as claimed by Iraq, but rather aims to compel Baghdad to disarm. He added that the U.S. desires peaceful measures but insists that Iraq's prohibited weapons program must come to an end. When asked about Washington's desire for regime change in Saddam Hussein's government, Powell responded that Baghdad's action to eliminate its weapons program would effectively be considered a regime change. Powell, who conducted his interviews from the U.S. Department of State, also congratulated Islamic and Arab countries on the beginning of Ramadan. The interviews were broadcast on various Middle Eastern television networks on Friday evening, coinciding with families gathering for iftar and watching television. Among the networks airing Powell's interviews were Al Jazeera in Qatar, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation, Abu Dhabi TV, and the Middle East Broadcasting Center based in Dubai.