DoD News Conference.

M2 PRESSWIRE-11 April 2000-US DOD: DoD News Conference (C)1994-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:08042000

Presenter: Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen

(Press Conference with Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen at Udairi Range, Kuwait)

Secretary Cohen: Alright, well you have just seen a live fire exercise and you've seen the kind of skill and discipline that these Marines have exercised and the key to military success is speed, power and maneuverability. And that's precisely what Charlie Company was involved in here just a few moments ago. This is the kind of training that is required to make sure that we always have a strong deterrent. And the best way to ever prevent wars from taking place, is to make sure you are prepared to fight them should deterrence fail and that's the reason why Charlie Company is out here, why the MEU is here, to demonstrate to our Kuwaiti friends and to all in the region, that our forces are fully prepared to respond quickly and decisively with overwhelming power. So, it is an opportunity for me to come out and see our Marines, to thank them for the sacrifice they make, the discipline that is involved in their training and the kind of commitment they have to the security of the United States and to that of our Kuwaiti friends and all in the region. I'd be happy to take your questions.

Q: Secretary, the French Foreign Ministry said the air raids on Iraq are pointless, deadly and alarming. Does this indicate that the alliance between the Western countries are not together at this moment?

Secretary Cohen: As a matter of fact, it doesn't. All of the countries are united in supporting the resolutions, which insist upon full Iraqi compliance. The fact that the French Minister made these comments does not in any way indicate that there is any lessening of commitment to see to it that Saddam fully complies with his obligations, to let the inspectors back in and to make sure that he has dismantled, discontinued his weapons of mass destruction program. Until such time as the sanctions are removed, and they cannot be removed until there is compliance, the alliance will remain firm.