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Saddam was a threat to the world: Powell
Sydney, Jan 17: Saddam Hussein was a threat to the world although no large stocks of weapons of mass destruction have yet been found in Iraq, US Secretary of State Colin Powell has told Australia`s national broadcaster.
Sydney, Jan 17: Saddam Hussein was a threat to the world although no large stocks of weapons of mass destruction have yet been found in Iraq, US Secretary of State Colin Powell has told Australia`s national broadcaster.
Powell said in an interview that the United States did not imply Saddam was personally involved in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
But, speaking five weeks after Saddam`s capture by US troops near his home town of Tikrit in northern Iraq on December 13, Powell said, "I think he was a threat, just his very presence was a threat."
"He had the intention, he had the capability and if he was ever released from UN sanctions and the pressure that was being applied against him, I don`t think any thinking person can believe he was suddenly going to decide he doesn`t have the capability any more," Powell said.
"Now we have not found yet large stocks of weapons so we don`t yet know and can`t establish what he had in the way of inventory, but what he had in the way of programmes to generate inventory and what he had in the way of intentions is absolutely clear," he added.
Powell also said the former Iraqi dictator had not yet given his US captors very much useful information. Bureau Report
But, speaking five weeks after Saddam`s capture by US troops near his home town of Tikrit in northern Iraq on December 13, Powell said, "I think he was a threat, just his very presence was a threat."
"He had the intention, he had the capability and if he was ever released from UN sanctions and the pressure that was being applied against him, I don`t think any thinking person can believe he was suddenly going to decide he doesn`t have the capability any more," Powell said.
"Now we have not found yet large stocks of weapons so we don`t yet know and can`t establish what he had in the way of inventory, but what he had in the way of programmes to generate inventory and what he had in the way of intentions is absolutely clear," he added.
Powell also said the former Iraqi dictator had not yet given his US captors very much useful information. Bureau Report