DATE=10/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240492
TITLE=IRAQI OPPOSITION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A NEW PLAN APPROVED BY THE U-S CONGRESS TO FINANCE IRAQI
OPPOSITION GROUPS IS DRAWING BOTH PRAISE AND CRITICISM IN
WASHINGTON. SUPPORTERS WANT TO USE 97 MILLION DOLLARS TO FINANCE
A REBEL ARMY TO HELP TOPPLE IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN.
PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY PRESIDENT CLINTON PROBABLY WILL SIGN THE
"IRAQ LIBERATION ACT." BUT V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, THERE ARE
MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW AND WHEN THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT.
TEXT: SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE
PLAN, SAYING IT IS TIME FOR WASHINGTON TO SEND "DIRECT AND OVERT"
MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS TRYING TO REMOVE
SADDAM HUSSEIN. SENATOR LOTT SAYS IT IS TIME TO FOCUS U-S POLICY
ON CHANGING THE MAN IN CHARGE IN BAGHDAD, RATHER THAN TRYING TO
"CONTAIN" HIS ACTIONS WITH MILITARY THREATS AND ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS.
SENATOR LOTT SAYS CURRENT POLICY HAS NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE, AND
THE INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS FOR SANCTIONS IS ERODING.
THE NEW PLAN ENVISIONS AN OPPOSITION ARMY OF IRAQIS TRAINED AND
EQUIPPED BY WASHINGTON. SENATOR LOTT TOLD SENATE COLLEAGUES,
SUCH EFFORTS HAVE PAID OFF IN OTHER NATIONS.
THE LEGISLATION [EDS: PASSED 10/7/98] AUTHORIZES THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION TO PICK ONE OR MORE IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS FOR
SUPPORT WITHIN A FEW MONTHS.
SENATOR LOTT SAYS THE "IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS" IS A GOOD
CANDIDATE FOR THE MONEY. CRITICS OF THE PLAN SAY OPPOSITION
GROUPS WILL LIKELY FIELD ONLY A FEW THOUSAND TROOPS, AND THEY
WILL BE CRUSHED BY SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LARGE, WELL-EQUIPPED
REPUBLICAN GUARD FORCE. BUT AHMED CHALABI, PRESIDENT OF THE
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS, SAYS CRITICS
OVERSIMPLIFY THE SITUATION.
/// CHALABI ACT ///
CRITICS AND SKEPTICS ARE SORT OF BEAN COUNTERS
[EXCESSIVELY CONCERNED BY NUMERICAL DETAILS]. THEY
COUNT HOW MANY TANKS SADDAM HAS, AND HOW MANY TROOPS HE
CAN FIELD. HOWEVER, THEY NEGLECT TO SEE THAT THE TROOPS
WILL NOT FIGHT FOR HIM.
/// END ACT ///
MR. CHALABI SAYS IN FACT, MANY OF BAGHDAD'S TROOPS WILL DEFECT TO
THE OPPOSITION.
BUT MIDDLE EAST EXPERT ANTHONY CORDESMAN SAYS THE IRAQI
OPPOSITION HAS LITTLE PUBLIC SUPPORT, CAN MUSTER FEW TROOPS AND
HAS NO REALLY SAFE PLACE TO ORGANIZE AND OPERATE. MR.
CORDESMAN IS CO-DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE EAST STUDIES AT THE PRIVATE
"CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES" IN WASHINGTON.
HE CALLS THE PLAN TO RAISE A REBEL ARMY "A MISTAKE" FOR
WASHINGTON.
/// OPT CORDESMAN ACT ///
IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH A MOVEMENT THIS WEAK, WHERE NO
ONE IN IT HAS REAL MILITARY FORCES, THE PROBLEM IS THAT
YOU CAN START SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T EASILY FINISH.
AND IF THEY ACTUALLY GET INVOLVED IN MILITARY ACTION,
THE QUESTION OF 'ARE YOU GOING TO PROVIDE TROOPS ON THE
GROUND, AND AIR COVER?' BECOMES CRITICAL.
/// END ACT ///
MR. CORDESMAN SAYS THAT IS A COMMITMENT NO U-S PRESIDENT IS
LIKELY TO MAKE. // END OPT //
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL PROBABLY
SIGN THE "IRAQ LIBERATION ACT," BUT HE SAYS MANY DECISIONS MUST
STILL BE MADE ON WHO WILL PUT THIS PLAN INTO EFFECT, AND HOW THEY
WILL DO IT.
/// REST OPT ///
/// BACON ACT ///
THE PRESIDENT HAS DISCRETION UNDER THIS PROVISION. I
DON'T THINK ANY DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DO THAT AT
THIS STAGE. AND BEFORE ANY PLANS ARE MADE, WE WILL HAVE
TO REVIEW WHETHER OR NOT AID WILL MEET OUR REGIONAL
OBJECTIVES, AND WE WOULD WANT TO TALK TO OUR ALLIES IN
THE REGION AS WELL.
/// END ACT ///
MR. BACON SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN TRYING OTHER WAYS TO
STRENGTHEN OPPOSITION TO IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN. HE SAYS
TOP U-S OFFICIALS HAVE GOTTEN SOME KURDISH GROUPS WHO OPPOSE
SADDAM HUSSEIN TO STOP FIGHTING EACH OTHER AND PRESENT A UNITED
FRONT TO BAGHDAD. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/WDC/WTW
20-Oct-98 5:37 PM EDT (2137 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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