Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage characterized the planned June 30 devolution of sovereignty to an Iraqi governing body as "imminently possible" but said that U.S. forces would likely remain in Iraq for some time to come.

"When we talk about wrapping up the military work, the security work ... by the middle of the year, it will not be possible. And some numbers of U.S. servicemen and women, along with coalition forces, will be serving in Iraq for some time to come," Armitage said in a March 18 television interview with North Carolina-based WRAL.

Commenting on recent attacks in Baghdad and Basra, the deputy secretary said, "The present situation in Iraq is one that is expected. As we get closer to the transfer of sovereignty, it is reasonable to expect that those who oppose us, and those who oppose a democratic Iraq will exert every effort to disrupt. And that's what you're seeing."

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
March 18, 2004

INTERVIEW

Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage
With David Crabtree of WRAL, Raleigh, North Carolina

March 18, 2004
Washington, D.C.

(2:30 p.m. EST)

MR. CRABTREE: Let's begin, if we can. I know we're on limited time here.

Obviously, for our area, there are numerous military families in this area, numerous people who are part of the military, both on active duty or may be inactive, at this time. As we approach this one-year anniversary of this engagement in Iraq, any message you have for military families, those in North Carolina, who follow what's happening extremely closely?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: The first message is that all the families and the servicemen and women, who were serving in harm's way, have the gratitude of the full nation. And second of all, it involved the servicemen and women in Iraq, and for that matter, in Afghanistan, are involved in one of the great endeavors of our times. We're so proud of them, we support them, and we're not going to finish this endeavor without success.

MR. CRABTREE: Mr. Secretary, we talk about finishing the endeavor. There is the move for the transfer of power, a transitional government to take place, to become, in effect, in Iraq, hopefully, by mid-year. Is it realistic to believe the United States can, for all intents and purposes, wrap up its active work in that country, any time in the near future?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, it depends on what the active work is, Mr. Crabtree. To pass sovereignty to the Iraqis by 30 June, is imminently possible, and indeed that's the course on which we're embarked.

When we talk about wrapping up the military work, the security work by the end of the year, no, it will not be -- by the middle of the year, it will not be possible. And some numbers of U.S. servicemen and women, along with coalition forces, will be serving in Iraq for some time to come.

MR. CRABTREE: We look at the events of just the past two weeks, both in Spain, in Baghdad again, in Basra today. When these events happen, as they continue to unfold, and there you are in the Department of State, a person who has spent a lot of time there, how do these events fall on you personally?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I think they fall on me personally and on Secretary Powell because of our previous service in Vietnam together and in the Pentagon. So we have, I think, a really in-depth understanding of what we're asking, not only of our servicemen and women, but also of their families, who are often not thought about enough when we think of these difficult combat situations.

But the present situation in Iraq is one that is expected. As we get closer to the transfer of sovereignty, it is reasonable to expect that those who oppose us, and those who oppose a democratic Iraq will exert every effort to disrupt. And that's what you're seeing.

MR. CRABTREE: Do you have any plans to head to that part of the country -- that part of the world, excuse me -- any time soon?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I do have plans, in about a month-and-a-half or so. We, for obvious reasons, don't give exact dates. But it won't be -- I've been in the past and I'll be going again, but we won't announce the trip beforehand.

MR. CRABTREE: Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, thank you very much for your time.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Thank you, Mr. Crabtree.