As the United Nations Security Council met April 22 to discuss the role of weapons inspectors in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, the White House dismissed the need for [U.N. chief weapons inspector] Hans Blix and other inspectors to return there, saying the U.S.-led coalition has taken responsibility for locating weapons of mass destruction, and suggesting that the return of U.N. inspectors would be a step backward.

"The coalition has taken on responsibility for the dismantling of Iraq's WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and missile programs, which is part of the international community's shared goal, which is laid out by the Security Council, a cause on which we agree," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters at the White House daily briefing.

"We are looking forward, not backward," Fleischer said. "Saddam Hussein's regime is gone and we will need to reassess the framework designed to disarm the regime, given the new facts on the ground. We look forward to working with Security Council members, the U.N. and friends and allies on the issue of post-Saddam Iraq and how best to help the Iraqi people establish a new government for themselves."

Told by a reporter that Blix had said in an interview that U.S. claims regarding Iraqi WMDs were based on "shaky evidence" Fleischer said it would be "unfortunate" if Blix were to criticize the United States now. "The United States is working with Iraqis to build a new country for them, and I think that would just be unfortunate if his position today is to criticize the United States. We know they (weapons) exist, and we're confident that they will be found," the press secretary said.

"I think the process (of disarmament) will be a transparent one," Fleischer said. "I think it's one where the world will receive the assurances that Iraq has been disarmed. But that should not be confused with the purpose of having sanctions imposed on the Iraqi people previously. Those sanctions were there to prevent Saddam Hussein and his regime from using weapons of mass destruction."

WHITE HOUSE URGES U.N. TO LIFT SANCTIONS ON IRAQ

With Saddam Hussein no longer in power in Iraq, the United States believes the U.N. sanctions against Iraq should be lifted, Fleischer said. President Bush has called on the United Nations to remove the sanctions on Iraq "because they no longer serve a purpose," the press secretary said. "The only people sanctions can hurt are the Iraqi people," he said.

The economic sanctions, which prohibit countries from buying or selling goods to Iraq other than through the oil-for-food program, were originally imposed to deny Saddam Hussein access to revenue. "Clearly the sanctions were not very effective, because Saddam Hussein continued to benefit from the money that came into his country," Fleischer said. "The regime is now history, and the sanctions should become history, too, because the Iraqi people need help."

He suggested that the United Nations could pass a new resolution in light of the new reality in Iraq. "That which came before, that no longer exists, need no longer bind the United Nations in a future vote that they take," Fleischer said. "The president views this as an important issue of humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq, and we hope the United Nations will take the right action."

U.S. DOES NOT RULE OUT PROSPECT OF ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ

Newly liberated from the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi people under the counsel of the United States will have choices about the structure of their future government, said Fleischer.

He said the White House has not ruled out a proposal by Shi'ite Muslims to make Iraq an Islamic state, although it objects to using Iran as a model for reform. "Iran certainly is not an example of a democracy or a country in which people are free," said Fleischer. "We want to make certain," he said, that the ousted dictatorship "is not replaced by another, different type of dictatorship."

"The goals of a liberated Iraq, from the point of view about what type of government the United States seeks, is a democracy -- a country that welcomes different religions, that has freedom of speech, freedom to worship, a free press," Fleischer said.

He emphasized that the United States seeks a united Iraq that includes Shi'ites, Sunnis, Kurds and others. Throughout the reconstruction process, the principles of democracy, freedom and tolerance are priorities, he said, but "that's not inconsistent with a state that has religious elements to it. Certainly you can have a state that...has religious elements to it, that welcomes openness in worship and freedom."

WHITE HOUSE PRAISES WORK OF POWELL, STATE DEPARTMENT

The White House objects to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich's charge that President Bush has not been well served by Secretary Colin Powell and the Department of State. Gingrich, in an April 22 speech at the American Enterprise Institute, alleged the "collapse of the State Department as an effective instrument" and said "America cannot lead the world with a broken instrument of diplomacy."

Fleischer responded with a statement of support for Powell and his department:

"The actions of Secretary Powell and the Department of State are the president's actions," Fleischer said. "They carry out the president's directions and they do so very ably and professionally. The nation and the president are fortunate to have a secretary of state as willing and as strong as Secretary Powell."

Fleischer said the diplomatic process that Secretary Powell led and the State Department followed was the president's process, the process the president decided on in his speech to the United Nations in September, and Powell did an excellent job in ushering it through the U.N. Security Council.

THE WEEK AHEAD

President Bush will meet April 23 with President Jorge Batlle of Uruguay in the Oval Office. Bush looks forward to the opportunity to deepen United States cooperation with Uruguay, a strong ally in the war on terrorism and in promoting democracy and economic growth in the Western hemisphere, the White House said. The leaders will discuss key issues on the bilateral, hemispheric, and global agenda, including the situation in Iraq and the war on terrorism.

Then the president will travel to Canton, Ohio, where he will make remarks on his domestic jobs and growth plan. He will then visit an army tank plant in Lima, Ohio, where he will make remarks on national security.

WHITE HOUSE CITES COOPERATION BETWEEN COALITION, IRAQI PEOPLE

The White House, in a statement issued April 22, said the cooperation of the Iraqi people is helping coalition forces to find death squads, uncover weapons caches, capture regime leaders, and restore order and basic services in Iraq.

April 22, 2003

Operation Iraqi Freedom

The overall situation in Iraq is improving daily, but Coalition forces still face resistance from remnants of Saddam's death squads and foreign fighters who came to oppose Coalition forces.

As we work to remove remaining elements of the former regime, the Iraqi people are emerging from the shadow of Saddam's tyranny to help Coalition forces find death squads, uncover weapons caches, capture regime leaders, recover POWs, and restore order and basic services.

This kind of cooperation is happening on a daily basis, across the county -- a sign of the growing trust between Coalition forces and the majority of ordinary Iraqis.

Of course, not all Iraqis support the Coalition presence. In any totalitarian system, there will be a small portion of the population that profits from the power of the dictatorship, while some others may be ordinary citizens who are understandably uncomfortable with the presence of any foreign forces on their soil.

A few weeks ago, there were no protests in Iraq. Now, Iraqis are speaking out, expressing opinions, discussing and debating the future of their country. They can do so because of the courage and determination of the Coalition forces.