Perle’s Remark on ‘Mealy-Mouthed’ Allies Repudiated

Assistant Defense Secretary Richard N. Perle was speaking for himself and not the Administration when he called European allied leaders “mealy-mouthed” at a meeting in Munich, West Germany, a White House spokesman said today.

Deputy Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater was asked about Perle’s attack on North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders at the annual NATO-dominated Wehrkunde Conference on defense studies that provoked angry rebukes from European and U.S. representatives attending the meeting.

“He’s colorful, isn’t he?” said Fitzwater.

Then he added: “Mr. Perle was speaking for himself and he was not speaking (for) the Administration. He was not speaking for the President.”