DATE=2/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226967
TITLE=IRAQ TOWN HALL (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SENT HIS NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM TO
COLUMBUS, OHIO TO EXPLAIN THE CASE FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTION
IN IRAQ. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS THE APPEAL
TO AMERICA'S HEARTLAND GAVE THE OFFICIALS A TASTE OF THE
CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THEIR POLICY.
TEXT: THE SETTING AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY WAS DESIGNED TO
EXPLAIN THE STAKES OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY IN IRAQ TO MIDDLE
AMERICA. THE THEORY GOES THAT IF THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE
POLICY THEY WILL SUPPORT MILITARY ACTION THAT IS DESIGNED TO
REDUCE IRAQ'S CAPACITY TO PRODUCE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WILLIAM COHEN AND WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY
BERGER ALL ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN THE POLICY THE SAME WAY THEY DO
TO REPORTERS OR CONGRESSMEN IN WASHINGTON. THE PROBLEM IN
COLUMBUS, OHIO WHEN SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT TRIED TO SPEAK,
PROTESTERS IN THE BALCONY TRIED TO DROWN HER OUT.
ONE, TWO, THREE , FOUR, THEY SHOUTED, WE DON'T WANT YOUR RACIST
WAR. THE 60 YEAR OLD SECRETARY OF STATE PLEADED, I WOULD VERY
MUCH LIKE TO FINISH MY SPEECH. THROUGHOUT THE 90 MINUTE TOWN HALL
PROGRAM TELEVISED NATION WIDE AND ABROAD BY CABLE NEWS NETWORK,
THE HECKLING CONTINUED. WHEN THE STATEMENTS ENDED, THE PANEL TOOK
QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE. THE FIRST ONE CAME FROM AN ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY.
///PROFESSOR ACT///
THE AMERICAN ADMINISTRATION HAS THE MIGHT AND THE MEANS
TO ATTACK THE IRAQI STATE BUT DOES IT HAVE THE MORAL
RIGHT TO ATTACK THE IRAQI NATION?
///END ACT///
DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN GAVE HIS RESPONSE OVER HECKLING.
///COHEN ACT///
THE QUESTION IS ALSO DOES SADDAM HUSSEIN HAVE THE MORAL
RIGHT TO USE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, CHEMICAL AND
BIOLOGICAL AGAINST HIS OWN PEOPLE? THE UNITED NATIONS
HAS DETERMINED THAT HE SHOULD NOT POSSESS CHEMICAL OR
BIOLOGICAL OR NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND WHAT WE HAVE IS THE
OBLIGATION TO CARRY OUT THE U-N DECLARATION TO MAKE SURE
HE DOESN'T POSE A THREAT OF AN IMMORAL MAGNITUDE TO HIS
NEIGHBORS AS HE HAS DONE IN THE PAST.
///END ACT///
NOT ALL THE QUESTIONS CONCERNED THE NEED FOR MILITARY ACTION.
OTHERS QUESTIONED THE ADMINISTRATION'S LIMITED AIM OF ATTACKING
TARGETS BY AIR INSTEAD OF OVERTHROWING SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM POWER.
MR. COHEN REMINDED THE AUDIENCE THAT GOAL TAKES MORE AMERICAN
TROOPS.
///COHEN ACT///
I THINK THE DIFFERENCE EXISTS BETWEEN WHAT IS DESIRABLE
AND WHAT IS DOABLE. I THINK EVERYONE IN THAT REGION AS
WELL AS THE WORLD COMMUNITY WELCOMES SADDAM HUSSEIN'S
REMOVAL FROM POWER. WE WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY AS
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT HAS SAID TO DEAL WITH ANOTHER REGIME
AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A MUCH MORE POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE
RELATIONSHIP BUT WHAT IS DOABLE REMAINS ANOTHER QUESTION
ALTOGETHER AS MR. BERGER POINTED OUT, THIS WOULD REQUIRE
IN OUR JUDGEMENT A RATHER MASSIVE FORCE OF LAND FORCES
AND WE DON'T THINK IT IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO CONTAIN
HIM.
///END ACT///
OPINION SURVEYS CARRIED BY THE CABLE NEWS NETWORK SHOW MORE
AMERICANS OPPOSED TO MILITARY ACTION IN IRAQ THAN IN FAVOR.
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT, A FORMER UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, TAKES
THE CASE SEPARATELY (THURSDAY) TO TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY IN
NASHVILLE AND TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. AS FOR THE
COMMOTION IN COLUMBUS, DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN REACTED
PHILOSOPHICALLY, SAYING THE PEOPLE EXPRESSING OPPOSITION AND
CRITICISM WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT IN A NUMBER OF
COUNTRIES INCLUDING IRAQ. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
18-Feb-98 6:04 PM EST (2304 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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