DATE=2/27/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39100
TITLE= IRAQ / CHICAGO ACTIVISTS
BYLINE= MICHAEL LELAND
DATELINE= CHICAGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: DESPITE THE INTERNATIONAL EMBARGO AGAINST IRAQ, THERE
ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE TRAVELLED THERE
TO DELIVER MEDICINE AND SUPPLIES TO THE COUNTRY'S HOSPITALS. A
DELEGATION FROM ONE CHICAGO GROUP ARRIVED BACK IN THE UNITED
STATES THURSDAY FROM ITS LATEST TRIP. THE ORGANIZATION "VOICES
IN THE WILDERNESS" HAS GONE TO IRAQ ELEVEN TIMES DURING THE LAST
TWO YEARS, IN VIOLATION OF WHAT IT CONSIDERS "INHUMANE SANCTIONS"
AGAINST THAT COUNTRY. MORE FROM VOA'S MICHAEL LELAND.
TEXT: // ROOM NOISE (ESTABLISH, FADE UNDER
TEXT //
ON THIS LATEST TRIP, THE MEMBERS OF "VOICES IN THE WILDERNESS"
DELIVERED 115-THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF MEDICINE AND MEDICAL
SUPPLIES TO IRAQI CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. GROUP MEMBER
KATHY KELLY SAY THESE ITEMS ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED BECAUSE OF
THE SANCTIONS IMPOSED AGAINST IRAQ AFTER IT INVADED KUWAIT IN
1990.
// KELLY ACT #1 //
WHEN YOU GO INTO THE HOSPITALS IN IRAQ YOU REALLY ARE
SEEING THE EVIDENCE OF A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
THE SANCTIONS THEMSELVES ARE DESTROYING LIVES. I SAW A
CHILD DIE BEFORE MY EYES IN AN IRAQI HOSPITAL THIS TIME.
I SAW AGAIN, CHILDREN EMACIATED, MARASMIC, MOTHERS
WEEPING AND ASKING, "WHY DO YOUR PEOPLE WANT TO DO THIS
TO US?"
// END ACT//
THE "VOICES" DELEGATION ARRIVED IN IRAQ FEBRUARY 13TH, AND MEMBER
CHUCK QUILTY SAYS, PEOPLE HE MET ON THIS TRIP, SEEMED MUCH MORE
TENSE THAN THOSE HE MET IN THE PAST, AS IT BEGAN TO LOOK CERTAIN
THAT THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES WOULD LAUNCH A MILITARY
ATTACK AGAINST THE COUNTRY.
// QUILTY ACT #1 //
WE WOULD HEAR COMMENTS, LIKE FROM OUR DRIVER WHO TOOK US
INTO BAGHDAD, "MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER ASKED ME BEFORE
I LEFT IF THE AMERICANS WERE GOING TO KILL ME AND MY
LITTLE SISTER." THE MANAGER OF THE HOTEL SAID, "I AM SO
GLAD YOU CAME TO SHARE THIS TIME WITH US, MY FAMILY IS
SO AFRAID WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.
// END ACT //
// OPT // MR. QUILTY SAYS THE IRAQIS WERE ENCOURAGED BY A
TELEVISED MEETING IN THE U-S STATE OF OHIO, DURING WHICH A CROWD
AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY SHOUTED DOWN U-S SECRETARY OF STATE
MADELINE ALBRIGHT, DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND OTHER
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS. THE MEETING WAS PART OF AN EFFORT TO
EXPLAIN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHY AN ATTACK ON IRAQ MIGHT BE
NECESSARY, BUT IT QUICKLY BECAME A PUBLIC RELATIONS NIGHTMARE FOR
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.
// OPT QUILTY ACT #2 //
THE IRAQIS KIND OF TURNED TO US AND ASKED, "WHAT DOES
THIS MEAN?" I THINK WE (THE AMERICANS) WERE MORE ELATED
BECAUSE WE KNEW WHAT IT MEANT: THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S
POSITION WAS NOT GOING TO BE EASILY ACCEPTED.
// END ACT // // END OPT //
THE U-S AND ITS ALLIES SAY IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN IS TO
BLAME FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MILITARY BUILDUP IN THE PERSIAN GULF
REGION, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT FULLY COOPERATED WITH UNITED NATIONS
WEAPONS INSPECTORS. BUT MS. KELLY SAYS IRAQIS ARE MORE LIKELY
TO BLAME THE UNITED STATES FOR THE TENSION IN THE REGION, RATHER
THAN THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP.
// KELLY ACT #2 //
WHAT I CONSTANTLY HEAR IS THE FRUSTRATION DIRECTED AT US
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY,
"YOU ARE WELCOME, COME TO MY HOME," A LOT OF
HOSPITALITY.
// END ACT //
MR. QUILTY SAYS, WHILE MANY IRAQIS PRIVATELY MIGHT NOT SUPPORT
MR. HUSSEIN'S POLICIES, THEY ARE MORE FEARFUL OF WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN TO THEIR COUNTRY IF HE WERE DRIVEN FROM POWER.
// QUILTY ACT #3 //
FOR MANY IRAQIS, ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT SADDAM HUSSEIN
IS THEY LIVE IN A TRIBAL SOCIETY AND THERE IS A GREAT
DEAL OF DANGER THAT IF HE WERE KNOCKED OUT OF OFFICE,
THAT SOCIETY WOULD FALL INTO CHAOS AND THERE WOULD BE A
LONG CIVIL WAR. THAT SCARES PEOPLE, TOO. PEOPLE WANT
STABILITY.
// END ACT //
WHILE IN IRAQ, MEMBERS OF "VOICES IN THE WILDERNESS" ALSO
ESTABLISHED A SMALL "PEACE CAMP" OUTSIDE THE UNITED NATIONS
HEADQUARTERS IN BAGHDAD TO CALL FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE
CRISIS OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS, AS WELL AS AN END TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ. THE GROUP HAS ALSO HELD
THURSDAY EVENING DEMONSTRATIONS IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO AGAINST THE
SANCTIONS TO MAKE MORE AMERICANS AWARE OF THEIR CAMPAIGN.
(SIGNED)
NEB/MJL/PLM
27-Feb-98 10:39 AM EST (1539 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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