Start Date: Saturday, February 24, 2001
Last Modified: Monday, May 4, 2020
End Date: Friday, December 31, 9999
QUESTION: The Iraqis have threatened Kuwait again. What do you have to say about this? SECRETARY POWELL: Don't worry. We are not going to see a repeat of that disaster. Kuwait is free. Kuwait has friends. Kuwait has allies. Saddam has nothing but rhetoric and shooting his mouth off. QUESTION: But still, we have threats and words from Iraqis. SECRETARY POWELL: You have threats, you have words, but you have friends and you have allies. You have strength and you have world opinion. And so Kuwait will remain free. Kuwait will remain secure. QUESTION: You said yesterday in Egypt that Iraq will be at the top of your agenda as Foreign Minister. SECRETARY POWELL: I am sure that it is something we will talk about tomorrow. And it is at the top of the agenda to make sure that we continue to contain Iraq so that it does not develop the kind of weapons that it is trying to develop. We have been successful for the last ten years in keeping him from developing those weapons and we will continue to be successful. [end]
QUESTION: The Iraqis have threatened Kuwait again. What do you have to say about this?
SECRETARY POWELL: Don't worry. We are not going to see a repeat of that disaster. Kuwait is free. Kuwait has friends. Kuwait has allies. Saddam has nothing but rhetoric and shooting his mouth off.
QUESTION: But still, we have threats and words from Iraqis.
SECRETARY POWELL: You have threats, you have words, but you have friends and you have allies. You have strength and you have world opinion. And so Kuwait will remain free. Kuwait will remain secure.
QUESTION: You said yesterday in Egypt that Iraq will be at the top of your agenda as Foreign Minister.
SECRETARY POWELL: I am sure that it is something we will talk about tomorrow. And it is at the top of the agenda to make sure that we continue to contain Iraq so that it does not develop the kind of weapons that it is trying to develop. We have been successful for the last ten years in keeping him from developing those weapons and we will continue to be successful.
[end]
Colin Powell
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Remarks at Arrival Ceremony, Kuwait City International Airport
02/25/01