DATE=12/17/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243176 TITLE=CLINTON / IRAQ (L) BYLINE=DEBORARH TATE DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE THAT THE JOINT U-S - BRITISH MILITARY CAMPAIGN AGAINST IRAQ WILL MEET ITS GOAL OF DEGRADING SADDAM HUSSEIN'S ABILITY TO DEVELOP AND USE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAYS HE IS CONVINCED THAT THE DECISION HE MADE TO ORDER AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A DIFFICULT ONE. /// CLINTON ACTUALITY // I GAVE THE ORDER BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE CANNOT ALLOW SADDAM HUSSEIN TO DISMANTLE UNSCOM AND RESUME THE PRODUCTION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WITH IMPUNITY. I BELIEVE THAT TO HAVE DONE SO WOULD HAVE, IN EFFECT, GIVEN HIM A GREEN LIGHT TO DO WHATEVER HE MIGHT WANT TO DO IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE MISTAKE. // END ACT // THE PRESIDENT SPOKE AS HE BEGAN A MEETING WITH JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF GENERAL HUGH SHELTON, DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE AS A NEW ROUND OF AIR STRIKES GOT UNDERWAY IN IRAQ. MR. CLINTON DENIED THE ACTION WAS ORDERED TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM AN IMPENDING IMPEACHMENT VOTE AGAINST HIM. // CLINTON ACTUALITY // I DO NOT THINK ANY SERIOUS PERSON WOULD BELIEVE ANY PRESIDENT WOULD DO SUCH A THING, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE ANY ASTUTE PERSON WOULD BELIEVE SECRETARY COHEN AND GENERAL SHELTON AND THE REST OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM WOULD PARTICIPATE IN SUCH AN ACTION. // END ACT // SOME REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE CRITICIZED THE TIMING OF THE MISSION, AS IT BEGAN ON THE EVE OF WHAT HAD BEEN A SCHEDULED VOTE ON IMPEACHMENT -- A VOTE NOW POSTPONED BY AT LEAST A DAY. MR. CLINTON SAID THE VOTE WOULD NOT UNDERCUT HIS AUTHORITY, AND HE SAID HE INTENDED TO COMPLETE THE OPERATION. U-S OFFICIALS WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THE DURATION OF THE MISSION, DUBBED 'OPERATION DESERT FOX.' // REST OPT // MEANWHILE, MR. CLINTON WOULD NOT COMMENT ON REPORTS THAT IRAQI TROOPS ARE ADVANCING TOWARD KUWAIT IN PREPARATION FOR A POSSIBLE INVASION, SAYING ONLY THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN MUST KNOW WHAT A DISASTROUS MISTAKE THAT WOULD BE. HE ALSO COULD NOT CONFIRM IRAQI REPORTS OF HEAVY CIVILIAN CASUALTIES RESULTING FROM THE AIR STRIKES. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE MIGHT BE SOME UNINTENTIONAL CASUALTIES, BUT EMPHASIZED THAT EVERYTHING WAS DONE TO MINIMIZE THEM. (SIGNED) NEB/DAT/LTD/KL 17-Dec-98 12:43 PM EST (1743 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
