DATE= 11/20/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223023
TITLE=U-S/IRAQ WRAP (L)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS TAKING A CAUTIOUS APPROACH TOWARD
IRAQ'S PLEDGE TO ALLOW UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS --
INCLUDING AMERICANS -- TO RETURN. RUSSIA HAS BROKERED AN
AGREEMENT WITH BAGHDAD ALLOWING THE INSPECTORS TO RESUME THEIR
WORK IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW OF UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS IMPOSED
ON IRAQ AT THE END OF THE GULF WAR. BUT AS CORRESPONDENT NICK
SIMEONE REPORTS, THE U-S MILITARY BUILD-UP IN THE REGION IS GOING
FULL STEAM AHEAD.
TEXT: DESPITE THIS RUSSIAN-BROKERED AGREEMENT, THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION IS NOT TAKING ANY IRAQI PROMISES ANNOUNCED IN
GENEVA FOR GRANTED.
THAT POSTURE WAS IN EVIDENCE MOST VIVIDLY AT THE PENTAGON WHERE
MORE ORDERS WERE APPROVED THURSDAY FOR THE DISPATCH OF ADDITIONAL
U-S FIGHTER JETS AND BOMBERS ALONG WITH COMPONENTS OF A PATRIOT
AIR DEFENSE MISSILE BATTERY, USED DURING THE GULF WAR TO
INTERCEPT IRAQI SCUD MISSILES.
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN MIKE DOUBLEDAY CALLS THESE NEW DEPLOYMENTS
PRUDENT, SAYING THEY WILL GIVE THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF U-S
FIREPOWER ALREADY IN THE GULF REGION ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY. HE
SAID THE STANDOFF WITH IRAQ WILL NOT BE OVER UNTIL ALL UNITED
NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS, INCLUDING EXPELLED AMERICANS, ARE
BACK IN IRAQ DOING THEIR WORK.
// DOUBLEDAY ACT //
WHAT I THINK EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR IS COMPLIANCE WITH
THE U-N SANCTIONS THAT WERE IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR
AND TO SEE THE INSPECTORS BACK DOING THE THINGS THEY
NEED TO DO TO MONITOR THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
PROGRAM.
// END ACT //
BY THE WEEKEND, THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE NEARLY 300 MILITARY
AIRCRAFT IN THE GULF AS WELL AS MORE THAN 20 SHIPS, INCLUDING TWO
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, AND ABOUT 30-THOUSAND MILITARY PERSONNEL.
DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE FORCES WILL REMAIN IN
PLACE UNTIL THERE IS FULL IRAQI COMPLIANCE WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS
REGARDING WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE, PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS NOT PREPARED TO DECLARE
THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ OVER UNTIL PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN LETS THE
WEAPONS INSPECTIONS RESUME WITHOUT INTERFERENCE.
// CLINTON ACT //
IN THE COMING DAYS, WE WILL WAIT AND SEE WHETHER HE
DOES, IN FACT COMPLY WITH THE WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY.
// END ACT //
AS PART OF THOSE INSPECTIONS, U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT
AMERICAN U-2 SURVEILLANCE FLIGHTS -- FLOWN UNDER THE UNITED
NATIONS FLAG -- TO CONTINUE. IRAQ HAS THREATENED TO SHOOT THEM
DOWN BUT HAS NOT RENEWED THIS THREAT SINCE THURSDAY'S DIPLOMATIC
BREAKTHROUGH IN GENEVA.
ON CAPITOL HILL, LEADERS OF BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE STRONGLY
BACKED PRESIDENT CLINTON DURING THIS STANDOFF. DESPITE THE
APPARENT LESSENING OF TENSIONS, SOME LAWMAKERS, AMONG THEM
REPUBLICAN SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER, ARE SUGGESTING A MILITARY
OPTION MAY AT SOME POINT STILL BE NECESSARY.
// SPECTER ACT //
WE MADE A COLOSSAL MISTAKE IN 1991 BY 20/20 HINDSIGHT BY
NOT GOING TO BAGHDAD (FIGHTING TO BAGHDAD). WE CAN'T
MAKE ANOTHER MISTAKE BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE FATAL TO LARGE
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.
// END ACT //
FOLLOWING THURSDAY'S DEVELOPMENTS, THE QUESTION REMAINS WHETHER
SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL ALLOW A COMPLETE ACCOUNTING OF ALL OF HIS
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION -- OR WHETHER THIS CRISIS IS BOUND
TO REPEAT ITSELF. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/TMD/WFR
20-Nov-97 5:33 PM EST (2233 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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