DATE=02/19/98
TYPE=WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP
NUMBER=6-10582
TITLE=ON IRAQ:COLUMBUS DEBATE AND ANNAN'S VISIT
BYLINE=ANDREW N. GUTHRIE
TELEPHONE=619-3335
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
CONTENT=
INTRO: A POSSIBLE MILITARY ATTACK ON IRAQ FROM THE UNITED STATES
AND BRITAIN CONTINUES TO REMAIN THE FOCUS OF MOST OF THE WORLD'S
EDITORIAL PAGES THIS WEEK. IN THE WORLD'S MAJOR DAILIES, THE
RAUCOUS PUBLIC MEETING AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY IN COLUMBUS, AT
WHICH THE TOP U-S POLICY MAKERS TRIED TO EXPLAIN AND DEFEND THEIR
POSITION, IS A POPULAR TOPIC. SO IS U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI
ANNAN'S LAST MINUTE VISIT TO BAGHDAD.
JOINING US IN THE STUDIO NOW IS _________________ WITH THE LATEST
COMMENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ON THE IRAQ-U-S SHOWDOWN IN THIS
WEEK'S WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP.
TEXT: THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WAR OF WORDS REGARDING
IRAQ'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS AGREEMENTS IT SIGNED
AFTER THE GULF WAR ABOUT ALLOWING OPEN INSPECTION OF ITS WEAPONS
PRODUCTION AND STORAGE FACILITIES, ARE FRONT AND CENTER IN THE
WORLD'S PRESS THIS THURSDAY.
ONE EVENT DRAWING CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION WAS THE RANCOROUS
PUBLIC MEETING AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL ARENA
WEDNESDAY, AT WHICH TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TRIED TO EXPLAIN AND
DEFEND THE POLICY. THEY WERE MET WITH A SMALL, BUT BOISTEROUS
GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO CHANTED 1960'S STYLE ANTI-WAR CHANTS AND
ASKED DIFFICULT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSED ATTACK.
OTHER PAPERS ARE FOCUSING ON THE PENDING VISIT TO BAGHDAD OF U-N
SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN WHO IS TRYING TO REACH A COMPROMISE
IN A SCHEDULED WEEKEND VISIT WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN.
WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN THE MIDDLE EAST WITH ONE OF THAT
REGION'S MOST FAMOUS DAILIES, CAIRO'S "AL AHRAM" WHICH RAN THIS
COLUMN:
VOICE: IF [MR.] ANNAN SUCCEEDED IN FINDING A SOLUTION WITH
WHICH THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE SATISFIED, WHICH SEEMS
IMPOSSIBLE, IRAQ WILL GENEROUSLY RETRACT ITS POSITION
AND SPOIL THE U-S 'CHANCE TO CONDUCT THE STRIKE. THIS
IS THE ONLY HOPE. HOWEVER, WASHINGTON WILL PROBABLY
REJECT THE PROPOSALS.
TEXT: NEXT DOOR, IN ISRAEL, A LAW EXPERT AND COLUMNIST RUTH
GABIZON HAD THESE THOUGHTS IN "MAARIV."
VOICE: ONE VERY SENSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE WAY OF AVERTING AN IRAQI
MISSILE ATTACK ON ISRAEL IS TO HAVE THE UNITED STATES
SCRAP ITS MILITARY PLANS AGAINST THAT NATION ..... A U-S
WAR ON IRAQ IS CLEARLY INDEFENSIBLE. A WAR WILL ACHIEVE
NOTHING EXCEPT KILL IRAQI CIVILIANS AND MAKE THE LIVES
OF OTHERS EVEN MORE MISERABLE.
/// OPT ///
TEXT: TURNING TO JORDAN, "AL-DUSTUR" ONE OF THE LARGEST AMMAN
DAILIES, NOTED:
VOICE: IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, THE AMERICAN AIM IS TO ABORT
[MR.] ANNAN'S VISIT .... TIME IS NO LONGER ON
WASHINGTON'S SIDE. IF THE IRAQIS MANAGE TO COME TO AN
AGREEMENT WITH KOFI ANNAN, WASHINGTON WILL BE THE LOSER
AND IRAQ WILL WIN.
/// END OPT ///
TEXT: FROM THE SAUDI ARABIAN CAPITOL, RIYAD, "AL-JAZIRA'S"
EDITORIAL POSITION INCLUDED THESE THOUGHTS:
VOICE: WE DO NOT SEE IN THE IRAQI REGIME'S ATTEMPTS TO COMPEL
THE UNITED STATES TO CARRY OUT DESTRUCTIVE MILITARY
STRIKES, EITHER UNILATERALLY OR WITH SUPPORT FROM
OTHERS, ANY POLITICAL GAINS ON DOMESTIC, REGIONAL OR
INTERNATIONAL LEVELS .... THE ARAB, ISLAMIC AND FOREIGN
WORLDS ARE AGAINST A MILITARY OPTION .... BUT ....
SADDAM HUSSEIN ... NEVER LEARNS FROM HIS MISTAKES.
TEXT: TURNING TO EUROPE, AND FIRST IN LONDON, THERE WAS A
REACTION IN THE BRITISH PRESS TO THE BOISTEROUS TOWN MEETING AT
OHIO STATE FROM "THE GUARDIAN" WHICH NOTED:
VOICE: SENIOR WHITE HOUSE FOREIGN POLICY MAKERS MET A BARRAGE
OF HOSTILITY WHEN THEY VENTURED INTO THE AMERICAN
HEARTLAND YESTERDAY TO RALLY PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR POSSIBLE
MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ: A SELF-INFLICTED DOMESTIC
PUBLIC RELATIONS DISASTER WHICH COULD DISRUPT THE
ADMINISTRATION'S IRAQ STRATEGY .... PUBLIC CONTROVERSY
OF THIS KIND WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE USED TO EMBARRASS THE
ADMINISTRATION AT HOME AND ABROAD AS IT STRUGGLES TO
CREATE A COALITION FOR FRESH MILITARY ACTION AGAINST
SADDAM HUSSEIN.
/// OPT ///
TEXT: ACROSS TOWN, "THE INDEPENDENT" SAID OF THE RAUCOUS
MEETING, IN WHICH SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT, SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE COHEN AND WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER BERGER
ALL TOOK PART:
VOICE: THE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF A LARGE AUDIENCE PACKED
INTO OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY'S BASKETBALL STADIUM PROVED
MORE ENLIGHTENING THAN THE ANSWERS, FOR THEY REVEALED
THAT THE U-S PUBLIC ECHOES THE MISGIVINGS EXPRESSED BY
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND A LARGE NUMBER OF MILITARY AND
FOREIGN POLICY SPECIALISTS IN WASHINGTON ABOUT A
MILITARY STRIKE AGAINST SADDAM.
/// END OPT ///
TEXT: JUST ACROSS THE CHANNEL, IN THE HAGUE, ONE OF HOLLAND'S
LARGEST DAILIES, "DE VOLKSKRANT" RAN A STORY HEADLINED "YOUNG
PEOPLE DO NOT WANT ALBRIGHT'S 'RACIST' WAR." THE PAPER'S
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT DESCRIBES THE DIFFICULT TIME SECRETARIES
ALBRIGHT AND COHEN HAD DEALING WITH A YOUNG CROWD WHO KEPT
INTERRUPTING THEM, BUT ADDS:
VOICE: .... THE OPPOSITION WAS A REFRESHING INTERRUPTION OF
WHAT HAD PROMISED TO BE A BORING EVENT. .... THE ONLY
ONE [OF THE PANEL] WHO WAS UNDISTURBED BY IT ALL WAS
NATIONAL [SECURITY] ADVISOR SANDY BERGER. BUT THEN,
[MR.] BERGER PARTICIPATED IN MANY DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE
SIXTIES HIMSELF.
TEXT: IN FRANCE, THE PARIS DAILY "LIBERATION" SUGGESTS:
VOICE: THE GHOSTS OF AMERIC'S DEEP DIVISIONS, AS DURING THE
VIETNAM WAR, REAPPEARED ... YESTERDAY ... AT OHIO STATE
UNIVERSITY .... IF THE AMERICANS ARE RELUCTANT, IT IS
BECAUSE THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE MODERATION [MR.]
CLINTON SHOWS ... THIS LOGIC OF WAR DOES NOT AROUSE A
WAR FEVER, NOT EVEN A REAL DEBATE.
TEXT: IN ASIA, THE LEADING JAPANESE TELEVISION NETWORK N-H-K RAN
THIS REPORT FROM WASHINGTON ABOUT THE OHIO MEETING.
VOICE: PERHAPS, THE U-S ADMINISTRATION TOOK THIS 'UNUSUAL'
STEP AFTER REALIZING THAT THE MILITARY OPTION IS NOT
GETTING AS MUCH SUPPORT FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AS
EXPECTED. .... ONE THING IS CLEAR. OPINIONS EXPRESSED
AT THESE FORUMS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A CONSIDERABLE
EFFECT ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S FINAL DECISION-MAKING.
TEXT: WHILE IN INDIA, AT LEAST ONE MAJOR DAILY, "THE HINDU"
APPEARS TO BE RESIGNED TO A MILITARY ACTION.
VOICE: EVEN A LAST-MINUTE DIPLOMATIC FORMULA MAY ONLY POSTPONE
WHAT NOW APPEARS AN INEVITABLE DENOUEMENT IN THE GULF.
UNDERLYING THE HARDENED POSITIONS OF THE TWO SIDES IS
THE REALITY THAT THE STATUS QUO IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE
TO EITHER IRAQ OR THE UNITED STATES .... ONE THING SEEMS
CERTAIN. IF THE PRESENT CONFRONTATION ENDS UP IN A WAR,
THE GEOPOLITICS OF THE GULF WILL NOT REMAIN THE SAME.
TEXT: FINALLY, TO AFRICA, WHERE, IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA'S
"CAPE ARGUS" WARNS:
VOICE: THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE SHOULD BE FIRMLY DISCOURAGED
IN ANY SITUATION WHERE THE POSSIBILITY OF A PEACEFUL
ALTERNATIVE EXISTS. EVEN THE THREATS OF STRIKES AGAINST
IRAQ HAVE HAD UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES. AS CRITICS OF
AMERICAN POLICY HAVE POINTED OUT, THESE THREATS HAVE
ALREADY GREATLY DIMINISHED THE PROSPECTS OF ....KOFI
ANNAN SUCCEEDING IN HIS IRAQI PEACE MISSION, FOR HE NOW
FACES THE TASK OF PERSUADING A BELEAGUERED LEADER TO
BACK DOWN IN THE FACE OF AMERICAN SABER RATTLING.
TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE END THIS SAMPLING OF THE LATEST WORLD
WIDE REACTION TO THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES AND IRAQ.
NEB/ANG/PLM
19-Feb-98 4:57 PM EST (2157 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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