Q: Your new defense minister, Peter Struck, said there was no threat to Germany from Saddam Hussein, and Condi Rice, of course, said the whole world was threatened.
A: I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle. There is no question that dictators represent a threat. And the crucial question is: what can they do and what would they like to do to realize their threats? The problem with Saddam is making up our minds what scope for political and military action he has. Politically, he has none, unless one forces the Arab world into solidarity with him. Militarily, I believe it is hard to judge.
In my view, the threat may be overestimated by people like Ms. Rice, and underestimated by others. That is why I was one of those who were disappointed that a change of objectives took place as regards the treatment of Saddam Hussein. I think that we— all of us, together— had isolated him politically and that there was a real opportunity of using diplomatic and economic pressure to get the inspectors admitted to the country again. The moment the debate in the United States put an end to the objective of exerting every possible kind of pressure to get the inspectors readmitted to the country so that we could discover what the real situation was, and not have to rely on surmises or intelligence reports — the moment this objective was changed, the real problem began.
How can you exert pressure on someone by saying to them: Even if you accede to our demands, we will destroy you? I think that was a change of strategy in the United States — whatever the explanation may be — a change that made things difficult for others, including ourselves.
That is one thing. The other thing is consultations. In the past it was always said: Before we do anything, we will consult with our principal allies — at least with those who take an active, very active part in the fight against international terrorism. But consultation cannot mean that I get a phone call two hours in advance only to be told, “We’re going in.” Consultation among grown-up nations has to mean not just consultation about the how and the when, but also about the whether.
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