President's Supplemental Appropriations Budget for 2003
Richard L. Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State Testimony before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign
Operations Washington, DC March 27, 2003
As prepared
Mr. Chairman, Representative Lowey, Members of the Committee, thank you very much for the opportunity to appear before
you today to testify in support of the President s request for supplemental appropriations to the FY 2003 budget. It
seems as though it was just yesterday that the Secretary was here, presenting our FY 2004 budget and it nearly was just
yesterday. Even in the short space of weeks since Secretary Powell s testimony, however, much has changed. Indeed, much
has changed in the last few days and will doubtless continue to change in the coming days and weeks.
One variable remains constant, however, and that is the partnership the Department of State enjoys with this
subcommittee and with your staff. In particular, Chairman Kolbe and Representative Lowey, I want to acknowledge the hard
work of Charlie Flickner, Alice Grant, Sean Mulvaney, Lori Maes, Mark Murray, Beth Tritter, and John Shank, who has
moved on to the Defense subcommittee staff, but nevertheless served this subcommittee with great distinction for many
years. Most of our accounts covered in the FY 2003 bill were fully funded, and I believe we can attribute that success
to your efforts, along with the efforts of your counterparts in the other body.
Passage of the FY 2003 Omnibus Spending bill represented a victory not just for the Department of State and the
President s policies, but also for you and our supporters in Congress who believe in foreign policy as a strategic
asset, a key aspect of our national life, and an integral part of our national security strategy. I wanted you all to
know that we recognize the difficulties you encounter and deeply appreciate all of your hard work.
Of course, one of those recent difficulties was anticipating the cost of our campaign in Iraq. I want to be clear that
even though the President has now presented his supplemental request, we will have to continue to adjust our
expectations and needs as the situation unfolds. I will be delighted to answer any questions you have today and to
continue our close consultation with all of you as events on the ground continue to take shape.
To date, though, one thing is manifestly clear: our military forces are performing magnificently. I have no doubt
whatsoever that they will prevail and achieve our military objectives. Nonetheless, this victory, as with any war, will
come at a high cost in human life and in dollars. We owe it to our men and women in uniform to honor their hard work and
their sacrifice by making the requisite and relatively inexpensive investment in peace. I believe this supplemental will
provide us with key funds we need to do so. We also owe it to the people of Iraq not to abandon them the moment this
regime is removed from Baghdad, but to assist them in relief and recovery and in building a framework for good
governance.
Our request for the international affairs portion of the FY 2003 supplemental is $7.79 billion, which will fund:
* Crucial reconstruction and humanitarian needs in Iraq; * Support for states that are contributing to or are heavily
affected by the ongoing operations; * Assistance for other nations engaged in ongoing operations in the war against
terrorism.
A portion of this request, some $187 million, will also support Department of State operations and $30.5 million will
fund the Middle East television and radio broadcasting efforts into Iraq. While those expenditures are not directly
pertinent to this Subcommittee s jurisdiction, they are essential to our ability to carry out the other duties and
activities that most directly concern you.
First, we are requesting $2.4 billion for relief and reconstruction for Iraq. These monies will go toward urgent needs
for food and water, security, public health, public works infrastructure to include transportation and electricity,
education, civil administration and the institutions of governance, as well as restoring and stimulating industrial and
agricultural capacity.
As I noted, the situation on the ground is shifting constantly, and therefore we are requesting maximum flexibility in
the allocation and disbursement of these funds. For example, we were prepared to see at this time large numbers of
refugees and internally displaced people, and have prepositioned supplies accordingly. Such massive flows of people have
not yet materialized and may not at all. We must remain prepared for such a possibility, though, given the human misery
involved in such movements and the potential for the destabilization of surrounding nations.
In some respects, Iraq is actually a fortunate nation, in that it has the wherewithal to stand on its own in a fairly
short period of time. We believe, however, that this initial capital investment from the United States will provide key
leverage in the effort to return Iraq to prosperity.
I want to emphasize that these funds are necessary for more than just material and immediate needs. This quick infusion
of support will make a clear and unmistakable demonstration of our intent to the people of Iraq. The citizens of this
nation have endured more than two decades of terror and oppression, as well as the misuse of national wealth to procure
weapons of mass destruction and for the personal aggrandizement of the ruling regime. When we talk to the people of Iraq
about freedom and liberation, it is incumbent on us to show them what we mean. We also have a responsibility to better
communicate our intent across the region, and this supplemental includes the $30.5 million I mentioned to increase
television and radio broadcasting in the region, as well as $200 million for other outreach programs to Muslim
communities around the world.
Engaging in military operations is a difficult choice of last resort for our nation, as it is for many of our partners
and allies. Many of those partners and allies will bear a heavy burden in this conflict, both in terms of their
contributions to ongoing operations and in the effects of war on their economies and security. This supplemental
includes approximately $5 billion to support coalition partners in the conflict with Iraq and in the global war on
terrorism, including:
* $2.1 billion in Foreign Military Financing to strengthen the forces of our partners and allies in military and
stabilization operations in Iraq and the ongoing war on terrorism, including $1 billion for Israel and $406 million for
Jordan. * $2.4 billion in Economic Support Funds to provide critical economic support to Jordan, Turkey, Afghanistan,
and Egypt, as well as to support economic opportunities in the Muslim and Arab world. $50 million will support ongoing
humanitarian and development activities in the West Bank and Gaza. * $200 million to assist coalition partners in
peacekeeping and post-conflict stabilization activities in Iraq. * $150 million in contingency funding to address
changing needs, including funding to support unanticipated stabilization and humanitarian operations related to Iraq. *
$28 million for anti-terrorism and protection programs and demining activities in Afghanistan.
Included in this request is $1 billion in ESF for Turkey, which we believe will help stabilize and sustain our longtime
friend through the turbulence that will accompany military and post-conflict operations in Iraq. And while we are
disappointed that we do not have deeper Turkish cooperation in the current situation, we do appreciate overflight rights
and ongoing discussions about border issues. We are also mindful of the fact that Turkey has already borne the costs of
living next to Saddam Hussein for more than two decades. Moreover, we have a direct, vital interest in supporting
Turkey, not just as an ally, but also as a democratic stronghold at one of the world s most strategic crossroads.
I want to be clear that these funds for our partners and regional players, whether for security assistance or for
school books, do not amount to a blank check or a bribe for unconditional support. While these are nations that agree
with us in our security goals for the region, these are also nations we expect to continue to pursue their other
national interests with full respect for the rule of law and human rights.
The same is true of the nations we are working with in the war against terrorism. Indeed, some of the nations covered
in the $5 billion for allies and partners remain on the front lines of that fight. We are requesting:
* $325 million for Afghanistan; * $200 million for Pakistan; * $30 million for the Philippines; * $71.1 million for
Colombia.
Each of these nations has made a tough commitment to fighting and holding the line against terrorism, and each
continues to face an uphill battle. We, in turn, must continue to demonstrate our commitment to them. The additional
funds will help with training and equipping police and security forces, providing economic support and stabilization,
and supporting ongoing military operations.
Just as there are nations with a front-line investment in our mutual security interests, there are also individual
Americans who are putting their lives on the line. The American people are well aware today of the courage and sacrifice
of our men and women in uniform, but are perhaps somewhat less aware of the men and women of our foreign and civil
service who serve with similar distinction and dedication. Indeed, the programs and prospects I have just outlined will
not succeed without the hard work of the employees of the Department of State. So I would like to add a few words about
the portion of the supplemental that deals with State Department operations.
At this time, 27 of our 261 diplomatic missions around the world are either on ordered or authorized departure, meaning
that most family members and nonessential personnel at those posts have been evacuated. And let me be clear that not all
of these separations are a result of current operations in Iraq. Some are due to concerns about health risks, some have
to do with localized unrest, and some are in reaction to concerns about terrorist threats.
To some extent, this is just life in the foreign service; it is historically and frequently a dangerous profession.
With the advent of terrorist attacks on our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania 1998 and on our own cities in 2001, however,
this has become a particularly dangerous time to be a diplomat. The murder of USAID employee Laurence Foley in October
brought this message home yet again to our Department of State family. In addition, in recent weeks, a number of our
embassies have been the focal point in several nations for fear and anguish about current military operations.
And yet, while this can be a dangerous time to be a diplomat, it is also a very exciting time. The fact is that we are
standing at an astonishing juncture, where America s place in the world and the world s place in America are extremely
important and extremely fluid. The Department of State needs to attract and retain the most talented and committed
workforce that we possibly can in such a time. In turn, we owe this workforce, as a bare minimum, a safe workplace one
that is equal to the challenges and opportunities of our time. This supplemental will help us in this effort by
providing $187 million in additional support for evacuations of family members and personnel, emergency response
capabilities and improved security, and new facilities, to include opening a diplomatic mission in Baghdad. The
supplemental request also includes $22 million for USAID to help support evacuations, the initial costs of opening a
mission in Baghdad, and other costs related to relief and reconstruction efforts.
Mr. Chairman, this is clearly a time in the life of our nation when we need good people and good policy, as well as
sufficient funds and full support for the range of our diplomatic efforts. We are, therefore, pleased with the President
s supplemental funding request for the Department of State and we believe these funds will help us to do our jobs right
in Iraq and around the world. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before this Subcommittee today, both to ask for
your support and to answer your questions. [End]
Released on March 27, 2003