ACCESSION
NUMBER:344675
FILE ID:TXT301
DATE:05/18/94
TITLE:TERRORISM REPORT: IRAQ (05/18/94)
TEXT:TERRORISM REPORT: IRAQ
(VOA Editorial) (380)
(Following is an editorial, broadcast by the Voice of America May 18,
reflecting the views of the U.S. government.)
The U.S. State Department recently issued its annual report on "Patterns of
Global Terrorism." As the report makes clear, international terrorists
depend on the funding, training, safe haven, weapons and logistical support
provided by sovereign states. The United States seeks to stop such states
from supporting terrorism and make them pay the cost if they persist. The
United States has publicly identified state sponsors of international
terrorism and imposed economic, diplomatic, and sometimes military
sanctions.
One of the seven countries that sponsor international terrorism is Iraq.
The Baghdad regime provides sanctuary to several terrorist groups. They
include the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has killed hundreds of
people in Turkey and mounted terrorist attacks in many other European
countries. Iraq also harbors members of such extremist groups as the
Palestine Liberation Front and the Abu Nidal Organization. These groups
have committed outrageous acts of terrorism that have killed or wounded
citizens of many countries, including the United States.
The tyrannical regime of Saddam Hussein engaged in dozens of acts of
terrorism last year, especially against U.N. personnel and international
relief groups in northern Iraq. U.N. and relief workers have been shot at
and had bombs or grenades tossed at their residences or vehicles. Last
September, a U.N. truck carrying 12 tons of medical supplies was destroyed
by a bomb that U.N. officials believe was attached by Iraqi agents at an
Iraqi checkpoint. The driver and 12 other people were wounded by the
blast.
The Baghdad regime's most brazen act of terrorism was aimed at the United
States in April 1993, Kuwaiti officials uncovered a plot to kill former
President George Bush while he was visiting that country. In June 1993, it
became clear that Iraq was behind the failed assassination plot, and
President Bill Clinton ordered a missile attack on the Iraqi intelligence
service headquarters in Baghdad. President Clinton said there should be no
mistake by Saddam Hussein or "any nation, group or person who would harm
1ur leaders or our citizens." As Clinton stressed, the United States "will
combat terrorism. We will deter aggression. We will protect our people."
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