DATE=2/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226894
TITLE=CLINTON / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AS THE U-S MILITARY BUILDUP IN THE PERSIAN GULF NEARS
COMPLETION, PRESIDENT CLINTON -- IN A SPEECH AT THE PENTAGON
TUESDAY -- EXPLAINED THE RATIONALE FOR USING FORCE AGAINST IRAQ
IF DIPLOMACY FAILS TO END THE STANDOFF OVER U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTIONS. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE
REPORTS.
TEXT: WITH PUBLIC OPINION POLLS SHOWING AMERICANS DIVIDED OVER
WHETHER FORCE SHOULD BE USED TO END THE SHOWDOWN WITH IRAQ OVER
WEAPONS INSPECTIONS, MR. CLINTON'S SPEECH WAS AIMED AS MUCH AT
THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AS IT WAS TO THE TOP MILITARY OFFICIALS HE
ADDRESSED.
THE PRESIDENT RECOUNTED IRAQ'S EFFORTS TO BUILD WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION AND HOW BAGHDAD HAS TRIED TO THWART THE WORK OF THE
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM, KNOWN AS UNSCOM, SINCE THE END OF
THE GULF WAR IN 1991.
WHILE REITERATING HE PREFERS A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT
CRISIS, MR. CLINTON ARGUED THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE
OF FORCE IF DIPLOMACY DOES NOT SUCCEED IN OPENING UP SUSPECTED
WEAPONS SITES.
AFTER MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF AND
NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS, THE PRESIDENT OUTLINED THE GOALS OF
POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTION.
// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
IF SADDAM REJECTS PEACE AND WE HAVE TO USE FORCE, OUR
PURPOSE IS CLEAR: WE WANT TO DIMINISH THE THREAT POSED
BY IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROGRAM. WE WANT
TO SERIOUSLY REDUCE HIS CAPACITY TO THREATEN HIS
NEIGHBORS. I AM QUITE CONFIDENT FROM THE BRIEFING I
HAVE JUST RECEIVED FROM OUR MILITARY LEADERS WE CAN
ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE AND SECURE OUR VITAL STRATEGIC
INTERESTS.
// END ACT //
WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT A MILITARY OPERATION CAN NOT DESTROY
ALL IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION CAPACITY, MR. CLINTON SAID
IT WOULD LEAVE SADDAM HUSSEIN LESS ABLE TO ATTACK HIS NEIGHBORS
OR THREATEN THE WORLD.
AT THE SAME TIME, HE WARNED THAT DOING NOTHING IN THE FACE OF
FAILED DIPLOMACY WOULD SEND A DANGEROUS SIGNAL TO THE IRAQI
LEADER:
// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
HE WILL CONCLUDE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS
LOST ITS WILL, HE WILL THEN CONCLUDE THAT HE CAN GO
RIGHT ON TO BUILD AN ARSENAL OF DEVASTATING DESTRUCTION,
AND SOMEDAY, SOME WAY, I GUARANTEE, HE WILL USE THAT
ARSENAL, AND I THINK EVERYONE OF YOU WHO HAS WORKED ON
THIS FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME BELIEVES THAT TOO.
// END ACT //
MR. CLINTON'S ADDRESS COMES AS U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN
IS EXPECTED TO TRAVEL TO BAGHDAD LATER THIS WEEK IN WHAT IS SEEN
AS A LAST-DITCH EFFORT TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC END TO THE CRISIS.
WHILE NOT MENTIONING MR. ANNAN'S MISSION, MR. CLINTON SAID ANY
DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION MUST MEET WHAT HE CALLED A CLEAR, IMMUTABLE,
REASONABLE, SIMPLE STANDARD:
// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
IRAQ MUST AGREE, AND SOON, TO FREE FULL UNFETTERED
ACCESS TO THESE SITES ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. THERE
CAN BE NO DILUTION OR DIMINISHMENT OF THE INTEGRITY OF
THE INSPECTION SYSTEM THAT UNSCOM HAS PUT IN PLACE.
// END ACT //
DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE
ALBRIGHT AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SANDY BERGER WILL TAKE THE
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WHEN THEY
TAKE PART IN A TOWN HALL-STYLE DISCUSSION AT THE OHIO STATE
UNIVERSITY WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/JO
17-Feb-98 2:31 PM EST (1931 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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