'Musharraf Can Do A Lot'

Full text of the interview to NBC's Today Show with Matt Lauer, Washington, DC,June 11, 2002

Mr. Lauer: As we reported, federal officials say the former Chicago gang member,born Jose Padilla, plotted with al-Qaida to blow up a dirty radiation bomb somewhere inthe United States. Richard Armitage is the Deputy Secretary of State. Secretary Armitage,good morning.

Richard Armitage: Good morning, Mr. Lauer.

Mr. Lauer: This is kind of a good news/bad news situation. On the one hand, weunderstand that this gentleman didn't have the chance to gather the materials he wouldneed to create a dirty bomb; on the other hand, it's pretty clear evidence that theseterror groups like al-Qaida are willing to use nuclear devices, even crude ones, againstthe US.

Richard Armitage: Well, I think it's a good news/good news. The good news is hedidn't use it, and the second is that we found him and he's in custody.

Mr. Lauer: How hard is it to police this sort of activity? I understand that we gotinformation on this particular gentleman from several sources. Did we get lucky, or can weprevent this in the future?

Richard Armitage: Well, I don't know whether you consider it luck or not. It seemsto me that the information was uncovered, primarily in Afghanistan to start with, and bothintelligence and law enforcement cooperated spectacularly, following him through severalcountries and finally bringing him to justice in Chicago. I think it's fantastic.

Mr. Lauer: Secretary Armitage, he was in Pakistan for a while trying to puttogether the plot to come up with this dirty bomb. Is that country doing enough to help usroot out the possible al-Qaida members who are holed up in their country?

Richard Armitage: I think President Musharraf and his colleagues have done quite abit. They know they've got a problem, particularly as we've toughened up in Afghanistanand bad guys come across the border and take up shop in Pakistan. But as far as Iunderstand, and what I've been given to know from our intelligence communities, they'repretty happy with the cooperation of Pakistan.

Mr. Lauer: You just returned from that region, met with leaders of both countries.Let me ask you, what were you most encouraged by? The news today is that the two countriesseem to have taken a step back from the brink of war.

Richard Armitage: Well, I'm most encouraged by the fact that the tensions haveclearly dropped. India has opened up commercial air links again from Pakistan; they'venamed a High Commissioner to go back to Islamabad; and finally, they've moved their fleetaround and it's sailing south. These are all good things.

Mr. Rumsfeld will be arriving in India shortly, and then laterally going on toIslamabad, and I think he'll continue the process of tension de-escalation.

Mr. Lauer: President Musharraf is under a lot of pressure to stop the flow ofmilitants into Kashmir. That is something the Indian Government is insisting upon. Is it arealistic request? Can he accomplish that?

Richard Armitage: Well, he can certainly do a lot, and I believe our Indiancolleagues are seeing the Pakistani authorities doing much more now. The question ofwhether he has control of all the people who would wish India ill and would want to causemischief is an open one. I think no one believes that he actually controls all of it.

Mr. Lauer: And the other question is, after the tensions subside, will he just openthe door again?

Richard Armitage: Well, that's a question. I don't believe so. President Musharrafhas embarked on an attempt to try to bring Pakistan and 154 million people into a betterway of life, and he can't simultaneously do that and be engaged in terror in Kashmir.

Mr. Lauer: Your shuttle diplomacy is one thing. What about getting these twoleaders to sit down face to face? Did you talk to them about that?

Richard Armitage: Well, I have talked to them about their previous sitting-downface to face, and at some time in the future I think they would be willing to. We diddiscuss the necessity of a dialogue over Kashmir. I think if the tensions continue tolower, clearly there will be a time when it's ripe for dialogue.

Mr. Lauer: Deputary -- Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. Mr. Armitage,thank you so much.

Richard Armitage: Thank you, Mr. Lauer.