DATE=2/17/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-38989
TITLE=KUWAIT / IRAQ
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=KUWAIT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: HOPES FOR A DIPLOMATIC SETTLEMENT OF THE IRAQ CRISIS
APPEAR TO HINGE ON A PROPOSED MISSION TO BAGHDAD BY U-N SECRETARY
GENERAL KOFI ANNAN. OFFICIALS IN JORDAN AND OTHER ARAB NATIONS
ARE CALLING IT THE LAST CHANCE TO AVERT A U-S LED MILITARY STRIKE
AGAINST IRAQ. FOR THE RECORD, ALL ARAB GOVERNMENTS HAVE
REGISTERED OPPOSITION TO A MILITARY OPERATION. BUT IN KUWAIT,
THAT OPPOSITION IS TEMPERED BY MEMORIES OF THE 1990 IRAQI
INVASION. CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS FROM KUWAIT.
TEXT: THE CRISIS HAS GRIPPED THIS OIL-RICH NATION OF ABOUT
TWO-MILLION RESIDENTS LIKE NOTHING ELSE SINCE U-S LED TROOPS
EVICTED THE IRAQI INVASION FORCE SEVEN YEARS AGO THIS MONTH.
LOCAL NEWSPAPERS HAVE PROVIDED EXHAUSTIVE COVERAGE, WITH MANY
BELLIGERENT COMMENTARIES, DECLARING IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
UNTIL WESTERN FORCES DELIVER ANOTHER CRUSHING BLOW TO THE
GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
WHILE THE (KUWAITI) GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO EMPHASIZE ITS
SUPPORT FOR A DIPLOMATIC SETTLEMENT, MANY ORDINARY KUWAITIS SEEM
EAGER FOR A MILITARY STRIKE.
ONE, 37-YEAR-OLD USED CAR SALESMAN WALID BOURASHID, GAVE HIS VIEW
AS HE REGISTERED FOR VOLUNTEER WORK WITH THE KUWAITI CIVIL
DEFENSE AUTHORITY.
/// BOURASHID ACT ///
WE CANNOT LIVE HERE FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES KNOWING
THERE IS A DANGER NEXT DOOR. AS LONG AS THIS DANGER IS
THERE, WE ARE NOT GOING TO FEEL ANY SAFER. WE ARE
GOING TO REMOVE THAT DANGER SO WE CAN GO TO SLEEP AND
WAKE UP WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT BEING DEAD WHILE
WE SLEEP BY A BOMB OR A CHEMICAL GAS.
/// END ACT ///
KUWAIT UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR GHANEM AL-NAJJAR IS
MUCH MORE CAUTIOUS IN HIS APPROACH TO THE CRISIS. BUT HE SAYS HE
UNDERSTANDS THOSE WHO WANT TO SEE SADDAM HUSSEIN PUNISHED.
/// AL-NAJJAR ACT ///
NOW WE ARE SEVEN YEARS, OR EIGHT YEARS FROM THE
INVASION. HERE, WE ARE NOT ANGELS, YOU KNOW. PEOPLE
REALLY RESENT WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY ARE ANGRY ABOUT
WHAT HAPPENED. I DON'T DISCOUNT ANYBODY.
/// END ACT ///
MANY KUWAITIS SAY THEIR CHIEF CONCERN NOW IS THAT A MILITARY
STRIKE AGAINST IRAQ WILL NOT PROVE STRONG ENOUGH TO FORCE A
FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE SITUATION.
ABDULLAH BISHARA IS A FORMER SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE GULF
COOPERATION COUNCIL, WHICH GROUPS KUWAIT AND FIVE OTHER ARABIAN
STATES.
/// BISHARA ACT ///
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A STRATEGY THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE
PROWESS AND THE POWER AND THE MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND THE
INSTRUMENTS THAT KEPT SADDAM HUSSEIN ( IN POWER) FOR
SUCH A LONG TIME -- AT THE EXPENSE OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE,
AT THE EXPENSE OF THE NORMALCY IN THE REGION, AT THE
EXPENSE OF IRAQ'S REEMERGENCE INTO THE CIVILIZED
COMMUNITY.
/// END ACT ///
MR. BISHARA AGREES WITH THOSE WHO SEE THE PROPOSED MISSION TO
BAGHDAD BY SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN AS THE LAST HOPE TO AVERT A
MILITARY STRIKE. BUT WHILE STRESSING THAT DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS
SHOULD BE GIVEN EVERY CHANCE TO SUCCEED, MR. BISHARA SAYS BAGHDAD
MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO EXTRACT ANY CONCESSIONS FROM THE U-N
OFFICIAL.
/// BISHARA ACT ///
WE DON'T LIKE NEGOTIATIONS THAT WOULD GIVE SADDAM
HUSSEIN A POLITICAL TRIUMPH.
/// END ACT ///
MR. BISHARA SAYS THAT IF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL RETURNS FROM IRAQ
EMPTY HANDED, A NEW WAR IN THE GULF WILL BECOME INEVITABLE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/JWH
17-Feb-98 10:31 AM EST (1531 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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