Is the United States satisfied with the cooperation it's
getting from the Iraqis, in terms of the interviews of Iraqi
scientists?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, that's part of the process that is spelled
out in the U.N. resolution. I refer you back to OP-5 and the U.N.
resolution, where it calls on the regime in Iraq to provide immediate,
unimpeded, unrestricted and private access to all officials and other
persons who UNMOVIC or the IAEA wish to interview. And it says that
UNMOVIC and the IAEA may, at their discretion, conduct interviews
inside or outside of Iraq, may facilitate the travel of those
interviewed and family members outside of Iraq, and that its sole
discretion such interviews may occur without the presence of observers
from the Iraqi government. So this goes back to -- again, there must be
full compliance with the U.N. resolution from Iraq.
There has been a number of indications that they continue to be
unwilling to change their past behavior. We still have not seen the
evidence that Iraq is willing to change, and that they are willing to
comply with all aspects of the U.N. resolution which seeks
disarmament. And, again, the regime in Iraq will disarm -- it is there
choice how they will disarm, but they will disarm.
And so this is all part of the process, but it goes back to what
Secretary Powell said as recently as last week, that they appear to be
unwilling to change their past behavior. And we have yet to see
evidence that they will change their past behavior.
Q So are you saying they're not complying in this specific
aspect of the interviews of the scientists?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I'm talking about their overall objective
here, which is to disarm, for the Iraqi regime to disarm. And, again,
I think I just addressed it by saying that there are a number of
indications that they appear to be unwilling to change their past
behavior and comply in full with the U.N. resolution.
Q Is this one of those indications?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, it calls for -- in OP-5. We'll see.
This is a process that -- it was the President that directed the United
States to seek disarmament through the U.N. And that's what we are
doing. This is part of the process, and they must comply fully with
the U.N. resolution. This is one part of that.
Q I wouldn't be mad if you said "no comment."
Q On North Korea, there are a lot of people, experts who see
the country essentially as a spoiled child, they have nothing else to
use and so this is what they do to get attention and that undermines
the threat of anything they're doing. How does the United States view
North Korea? If that undercuts the threat, do you just see it
essentially as a last-ditch effort, or do you take the threat
seriously?
MR. McCLELLAN: From North Korea? Well, again, I think I addressed
all that. I think for now we need to let the discussions happen with
our friends and allies about the next steps that we take.
Q But the fact that military force is still not being
considered, even as they ratchet-up, suggests that there's not a level
of fear.
MR. McCLELLAN: -- peaceful resolution -- in urging North Korea to
change it's form of behavior.
Q Well, is it correct to sort of sense that there's not,
let's say, a sense of fear or worry as there is with Iraq, in terms of
North Korea?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, no, I think we have said -- there are
different circumstances in different regions of the world that we're
talking about there, but I think we have previously addressed that and
said that there are serious concerns about the latest actions the
regime in North Korea has undertaken.
Q Other than clearing brush, is he going to do anything else
on the ranch today?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't have any more update beyond this morning.
If there is more of an update, I'll get that to you guys later.
Q When are we going to see you again?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'll be around, I'm here.
END 12:28 P.M. CST