DATE=12/1/97
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-38255
TITLE=U-S AND IRAQ
BYLINE=ED WARNER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: WHILE TENSIONS HAVE SUBSIDED SOMEWHAT OVER IRAQ, A CLEAR
U-S COURSE OF ACTION TOWARD SADDAM HUSSEIN REMAINS HOTLY DEBATED.
V-O-A'S ED WARNER PROVIDES SOME VIEWS OF ANALYSTS ON DEALING WITH
THE IRAQI LEADER.
TEXT: A HEADLINE IN THE SUNDAY NEW YORK TIMES NEWSPAPER
PROCLAIMED "AMERICANS DECIDE WAR MAY NOT BE QUITE SO SCARY."
THE COMMENTARY NOTED A (NEWSWEEK) SURVEY TAKEN IN MID-NOVEMBER
THAT SHOWED FIFTY-THREE PERCENT OF AMERICANS FAVOR MILITARY
ACTION AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN IF HE DOES NOT GIVE WAY ON ARMS
INSPECTIONS.
THE NEWSPAPER SPECULATED THAT AMERICANS HAVE FINALLY RECOVERED
FROM WHAT IS KNOWN AS "VIETNAM SYNDROME" -- DISMAY OVER A FAILED
WAR -- AND ARE HEARTENED BY THE EASY VICTORY IN THE 1991 PERSIAN
GULF WAR.
THE TIMES QUOTED A FORMER SENIOR ADVISER TO THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION AS SAYING: "IF WE CAN KILL SADDAM, WE SHOULD." A
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADER MADE THE SAME EMPHATIC POINT.
BUT JACK MATLOCK, FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA, CAUTIONED
AGAINST U-S OVER-INVOLVEMENT ON JOHN MCLAUGHLIN'S NBC-TV PROGRAM,
"ONE-ON-ONE:"
// MATLOCK ACT //
IT DOES SEEM TO ME THAT, WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR,
THERE IS NO REASON FOR US TO GET OUT IN THE FRONT OF
ALL OF THESE REGIONAL ISSUES. IT SEEMS TO ME WE SHOULD
TELL THE COUNTRIES IN THE AREA, AND THOSE IN EUROPE THAT
ARE CLOSE TO IT, THAT IT IS THEIR PROBLEM FIRST OF ALL,
AND WE ARE WILLING TO COOPERATE. BUT THEY SHOULD NOT
EXPECT US TO COME IN AND TAKE THE BRUNT.
// END ACT //
AMBASSADOR MATLOCK SAID THE UNITED STATES SHOULD REFRAIN FROM
UNILATERAL ACTION UNTIL A CONSENSUS HAS BEEN FORMED AMONG THE
REGIONAL POWERS MOST DIRECTLY INVOLVED.
WILLIAM RUGH, A FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
SPEAKING ON THE SAME PROGRAM, SAID THAT HAS NOT YET OCCURRED IN
THE MIDDLE EAST:
// RUGH ACT //
THERE IS A GROWING DISPARITY AND A GROWING GAP BETWEEN
OUR PERCEPTION OF IRAQ AND THE ARAB PERCEPTION OF IRAQ.
SHEIK ZAID, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES,
GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE IN WHICH HE SAID, 'THERE IS NOT
A PROBLEM OF SECURITY IN THE GULF. THE PROBLEM IS WITH
THE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE." THAT IS A VERY
DIFFERENT PERCEPTION AND A VERY DIFFERENT TAKE ON WHAT
IS GOING ON.
// END ACT //
AMBASSADOR RUGH ADDED MILITARY OR COVERT ACTION AGAINST SADDAM
HUSSEIN IS NOT LIKELY TO SUCCEED. HE PROPOSED A DIPLOMATIC
TARGETING OF THE IRAQIS CLOSE TO THE LEADER:
// RUGH ACT //
THE MAIN STRENGTH THAT SADDAM HAS IS THE PEOPLE AROUND
HIM. CURRENTLY, THEY SEE THEIR FATE TIED TO SADDAM. IF
HE GOES, THEY WILL GO. I THINK WE OUGHT TO FIND A WAY
TO BREAK THE LINK. WE OUGHT TO DECLARE HIM A WAR
CRIMINAL, AND WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER -- AND THIS IS A
RADICAL IDEA --GIVING HIS ASSOCIATES AN AMNESTY IF HE
FALLS.
// END ACT //
AMBASSADOR MATLOCK SAID THIS IS WORTH TRYING SINCE NOTHING ELSE
HAS WORKED. BOTH DIPLOMATS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF REVIVING
THE PEACE PROCESS TO DEFUSE REGIONAL TENSIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/EW/MMK
01-Dec-97 12:11 PM EST (1711 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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