DATE=4/6/98
TYPE=BACKGROUNDER REPORT
NUMBER=5-39482
TITLE=IRAQI OPPOSITION
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE LATEST CRISIS BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS HAS
FADED, BUT THE IRAQI OPPOSITION HAS NOT ENDED ITS CRUSADE FOR
OUTSIDE SUPPORT TO BOLSTER ITS FIGHT AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN.
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN TAKES A LOOK AT THE MANY GROUPS
OPERATING OUTSIDE IRAQ'S BORDERS.
TEXT: OPPONENTS OF THE BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT CAN BE FOUND AMONG
KURDS, SHIITE AND SUNNI MUSLIMS AS WELL AS SECULARISTS, SCHOLARS,
BUSINESSMEN AND FORMER MILITARY OFFICERS. OPPOSITION GROUPS CAN
BE FOUND IN DAMASCUS, AMMAN, TEHRAN, LONDON AND OTHER EUROPEAN
CAPITALS.
SOME OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY. SOME ARE SUPPORTED BY REGIONAL
GOVERNMENTS WITH DIFFERENT NATIONAL INTERESTS WHEN IT COMES TO
DEALING WITH IRAQ.
MOST ARE LOOSELY GROUPED UNDER AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS
THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS. THEY AGREE ON A COMMON GOAL --,THE
OUSTER OF SADDAM HUSSEIN. BUT THEY DIFFER ON HOW THAT CAN BE
ACCOMPLISED -- EITHER BY COUP OR BY POPULAR UPRISING, WITH OR
WITHOUT OUTSIDE HELP.
DHOGAN KADHIM IS A MEMBER OF THE POLITBURO OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL
ACCORD, WHICH IS BASED IN AMMAN, JORDAN. HE SAYS IT IS HARD TO
DEFINE THE IRAQI OPPOSITION AS ONE PERSON OR ONE ORGANIZATION.
//KADHIM ACT//
WHEN YOU SAY OPPOSITION, YOU MIGHT THINK THERE IS A
GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE WHO COULD EXPRESS THEMSELVES.
THERE ARE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, THERE IS PRESS, THERE
IS MEDIA WHO COULD TALK. IT'S NOT LIKE THAT. IN THE
IRAQI SITUATION STARTING FROM THE BEGINNING FROM
'68-'69, THE OPPPRESSIVE REGIMES STARTED CRUSHING ALL
PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY ARE WITHIN THE PARTY, FROM OUTSIDE
THE PARTY, SAYING SOMETHING AGAINST THE REGIME OR
EXPRESSING AN IDEA. AND THAT SITUATION CAUSED MORE
THAN THREE MILLION IRAQIS TO ESCAPE THE COUNTRY OVER THE
PAST 30 YEARS OF THIS DICTATORSHIP.
//END ACT//
THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT VOICES, SO MANY EXILED GROUPS THAT
CRITICS TO COMPLAIN THE MOVEMENTS LACK COORDINATION AND AN
EFFECTIVE POWER BASE INSIDE IRAQ.
IRAQ ANALYST LAURIE MYLROIE SAYS TRYING TO WORK AGAINST THE
GOVERNMENT FROM INSIDE IRAQ IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.
//MYLROIE ACT//
ONE CANNOT GET AROUND THAT PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE A
TOTALITARIAN STATE WHICH CUTS OFF AND SUPPRESSES ALL
INTERNAL DISSENT. WE KNOW IT'S HATED, FEARED AND
LOATHED. THEREFORE YOU CANNOT GET FROM WITHIN THE AREA
THAT SADDAM CONTROLS ANY EXPRESSION OF POLITICAL
OPPOSITION TO THE REGIME.
//END ACT//
MISS MYLROIE IS SENIOR ANALYST FOR THE FOREIGN POLICY INSTITUTE
IN WASHINGTON. SHE SAYS U-S SUPPORT NOW IS MOSTLY FOCUSSED ON
THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION, THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS.
I-N-C LEADER AHMED CHALABI RECENTLY LOBBIED THE U-S CONGRESS FOR
MORE HELP.
//CHALABI ACT//
SADDAM IS THE ARABIC PEOPLE'S PROBLEM AND WE ARE
PREPARED TO BEAR ANY BURDEN TO REMOVE HIM FROM POWER.
ALL WE ASK IS A CHANCE TO FREE OURSELVES. WE LOOK TO THE
UNITED STATES TO GIVE US THAT CHANCE.
//END ACT//
THE I-N-C DID MANAGE TO SET UP A BASE OF OPERATION IN IRAQ'S
KURDISH AUTONOMOUS ZONE. THE NORTHERN AREA IS PROTECTED BY
NO-FLY ZONE, WHICH WAS SET UP AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR. BUT THE
ARRIVAL OF IRAQI TROOPS THERE TWO YEARS AGO FORCED THE I-N-C
MEMBERS AND SOME OF THEIR C-I-A ADVISORS TO FLEE IRAQ.
NOW THE I-N-C WANTS HELP TO SET UP A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT
INSIDE ONE OF THE SAFE HAVENS INSIDE IRAQ WITH AMERICAN PLANES
PROTECTING THE AREA FROM IRAQI TROOPS. BUT OTHER IRAQI
DISSIDENTS WARN AGAINST RELYING TOO MUCH ON THE U-S OR ANY OTHER
GOVERNMENT FOR HELP. THEY SAY THE STRATEGY COULD BACKFIRE IF
CHANGING POLITICAL PRESSURES CURB THE FLOW OF AID JUST WHEN THE
IRAQI DISSIDENTS NEED IT MOST. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/KL
06-Apr-98 3:53 PM EDT (1953 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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