News Release

February 5, 2003

Media Contact: (202) 789-5200

Cato Expert Says Powell Speech Does Not Justify Pre-Emptive Action
Cato expert says Powell speech does not justify pre-emptive action

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the U.N. Security Council today and presented evidence alleging that Saddam Hussein is hiding weapons of mass destruction in an attempt to convince the Security Council that Iraq is in violation of its weapons agreement with the U.N.

Cato Institute defense expert Charles Peņa made the following comments on Powell's speech:

"Secretary of State Colin Powell provided even more evidence affirming what we already know: that Iraq has chemical and biological weapons and continues to pursue development of nuclear weapons. But whether Iraq has or doesn't have weapons of mass destruction completely misses the more important and fundamental point that Iraq does not have any military capability that directly threatens the United States and would absolutely require pre-emptive U.S. military action.

"According to the Pentagon, existing and emerging threats to the United States include 12 countries with nuclear weapons programs, 13 countries with biological weapons, and 16 with chemical weapons. So if WMD is the criteria for military action, then Iraq should not be the only target.

"The alleged linkages to al Qaeda involve connecting Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi to the Ansar al-Islam terrorist group operating in northeastern Iraq. But this is Kurdish-controlled territory protected by U.S.-led enforcement of the no-fly zone and collaboration between Ansar al-Islam and the Iraqi regime is not proven. And no case has been made that Iraq supported al Qaeda in the planning, financing, or operation of the September 11 attacks. Thus, the case against Iraq remains essentially unchanged. The only thing different is the messenger."

Charles Peņa, Ted Galen Carpenter, and Christopher Preble are available for media interviews to discuss Powell's speech.