DATE=2/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226905
TITLE=CLINTON / IRAQ ONITER (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S TOP NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS
TRAVEL TO OHIO LATER TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO PREPARE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE FOR POSSIBLE U-S MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, IF
DIPLOMACY FAILS TO END THE STANDOFF OVER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.
V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.
TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, DEFENSE SECRETARY
WILLIAM COHEN AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER WILL
TAKE PART IN A NATIONALLY-TELEVISED TOWN HALL-STYLE DISCUSSION IN
COLUMBUS, OHIO.
IT IS ALL PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN
-- TO BOOST DOMESTIC SUPPORT FOR THE POSSIBLE USE OF FORCE
AGAINST IRAQ, IF DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS DO NOT SUCCEED IN OPENING
SUSPECTED IRAQI WEAPONS SITES TO U-N INSPECTORS.
MR. CLINTON OUTLINED THE MESSAGE THAT HIS SECURITY TEAM IS TAKING
TO OHIO, DURING AN APPEARANCE AT THE PENTAGON TUESDAY.
// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
SADDAM HUSSEIN COULD END THIS CRISIS TOMORROW, SIMPLY BY
LETTING THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS COMPLETE THEIR MISSION.
HE MADE A SOLEMN COMMITMENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY TO DO THAT, AND TO GIVE UP HIS WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION, A LONG TIME AGO. NOW, ONE WAY OR THE
OTHER, WE ARE DETERMINED TO SEE THAT HE MAKES GOOD ON
HIS OWN PROMISE.
// END ACT //
RESPONDING TO CONGRESSIONAL CONCERN THAT HE HAS NOT CLEARLY
SPELLED OUT HIS GOALS IN THE GULF, MR. CLINTON SAID THE AIM OF
ANY EVENTUAL MILITARY ACTION WOULD BE TO SERIOUSLY DIMINISH
IRAQ'S ABILITY TO THREATEN ITS NEIGHBORS WITH WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION.
MR. CLINTON SAYS HE PREFERS A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS,
BUT IF DIPLOMACY FAILS, THE UNITED STATES MUST ACT. DOING
OTHERWISE, HE WARNED, WOULD SEND THE IRAQI LEADER A DANGEROUS
MESSAGE:
// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
IF WE FAIL TO RESPOND TODAY, SADDAM AND ALL THOSE WHO
WOULD FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS WILL BE EMBOLDENED
TOMORROW BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY CAN ACT WITH
IMPUNITY -- EVEN IN THE FACE OF A CLEAR MESSAGE FROM THE
UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AND CLEAR EVIDENCE OF A
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROGRAM.
// END ACT //
AS THE UNITED STATES PREPARES FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF USING FORCE
IN THE GULF, U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS EXPECTED TO
VISIT BAGHDAD THIS WEEK, IN WHAT APPEARS TO BE A LAST-DITCH
EFFORT TO REACH A PEACEFUL END TO THE CRISIS.
WHILE HE DID NOT SPECIFICALLY REFER TO MR. ANNAN'S MISSION, MR.
CLINTON SAID ANY DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION MUST ALLOW U-N INSPECTORS
FREE AND UNFETTERED ACCESS TO SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES, INCLUDING
PRESIDENTIAL SITES. IN ADDITION, HE SAID, ANY DEAL MUST PROTECT
THE INTEGRITY OF THE INSPECTION SYSTEM. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/WTW
17-Feb-98 4:58 PM EST (2158 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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