DATE=2/20/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39036
TITLE=WASHINGTON AND THE WORLD REVIEW
BYLINE=MIKE MORAVITZ
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// FOR WEEKEND USE ///
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON PRESENTS HIS MOST EXTENSIVE PUBLIC
EXPLANATION FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ....MR.
CLINTON'S FOREIGN POLICY TEAM RECEIVES A MIXED RECEPTION WHEN
DISCUSSING THE ADMINISTRATION'S IRAQI POLICY...AND MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS OFFER THEIR VIEWS ON THE CRISIS. V-O-A'S MIKE MORAVITZ
REPORTS ON THESE STORIES IN THIS WASHINGTON AND THE WORLD REVIEW
OF U-S FOREIGN POLICY DEVELOPMENTS THIS PAST WEEK.
TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON TRAVELED TUESDAY TO THE PENTAGON TO
MAKE HIS CASE FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ. MR.
CLINTON ACCUSED IRAQ OF HARASSING UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS
INSPECTORS, LYING TO THEM, DISABLING MONITORING CAMERAS, AND
SPIRITING EVIDENCE AWAY FROM INSPECTORS.
THE PRESIDENT SAID U-N INSPECTORS BELIEVE IRAQ STILL HAS
STOCKPILES OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MUNITIONS, A SMALL FORCE OF
MISSILES, AND THE CAPACITY TO QUICKLY RESTART ITS WEAPONS
PRODUCTION PROGRAM. MR. CLINTON SAID HE GUARANTEES IRAQI LEADER
SADDAM HUSSEIN WOULD USE HIS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IF LEFT
ALONE BY U-N INSPECTORS.
THE PRESIDENT OUTLINED THE PURPOSE OF ANY MILITARY STRIKES
AGAINST IRAQ.
// 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 //
MR. CLINTON REPEATED THAT THE UNITED STATES PREFERS A DIPLOMATIC
SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS. HE SAID MR. SADDAM COULD END THE
STANDOFF BY SIMPLY AGREEING TO ALLOW FREE, FULL, AND UNFETTERED
ACCESS TO SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES ANYWHERE IN IRAQ. THE
PRESIDENT HAS REFUSED TO GIVE A DEADLINE BEFORE MILITARY STRIKES
WOULD BEGIN, BUT HE SAID IRAQ MUST AGREE SOON TO FULL WEAPONS
INSPECTIONS.
-0-
THE PRESIDENT'S FOREIGN POLICY TEAM -- SECRETARY OF STATE
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN, AND NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISOR SANDY BERGER -- TRIED TO BUILD PUBLIC SUPPORT
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION THIS WEEK.
HOWEVER, AT A TOWN MEETING AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY IN COLUMBUS,
OHIO WEDNESDAY, THE THREE OFFICIALS FACED SOME HECKLING AND SHARP
QUESTIONING. AUDIENCE MEMBERS ASKED ABOUT THE LACK OF
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR BOMBING IRAQ, THE POTENTIAL FOR
CIVILIAN CASUALTIES AND THE FEASIBILITY OF REDUCING IRAQ'S
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN, OVER THE HECKLING, DEFENDED U-S POLICY.
///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///
MR. COHEN, HOWEVER, STOPPED SHORT OF ADVOCATING A MILITARY
CAMPAIGN TO OVERTHROW SADDAM HUSSEIN. HE SAID SUCH A CAMPAIGN
WOULD REQUIRE MASSIVE LAND FORCES, AND THE GOAL OF U-S POLICY IS
TO CONTAIN MR. SADDAM -- NOT OUST HIM.
-0-
THE U-S CONGRESS IS ON A HOLIDAY RECESS UNTIL FEBRUARY 23RD.
WHEN LAWMAKERS RETURN, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE UP A RESOLUTION
TO SUPPORT ANY U-S MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ.
SOME LAWMAKERS ARE ALREADY EXPRESSING OPINIONS ABOUT THE CRISIS.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR, ARLEN SPECTER OF PENNSYLVANIA, SAYS PRESIDENT
CLINTON SHOULD NOT ATTACK IRAQ UNTIL CONGRESS APPROVES SUCH A
MOVE.
ANOTHER REPUBLICAN SENATOR, KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON OF TEXAS,
ADVOCATES FURTHER STEPS, IN ADDITION TO BOMBING, TO CONTAIN MR.
SADDAM.
/// HUTCHISON ACT ///
WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE THE SECOND STEP. WE HAVE GOT TO SET
UP A RADIO FREE IRAQ AND START TALKING TO THE IRAQI
PEOPLE. WE HAVE GOT TO TAKE OUT HIS COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEMS. WE HAVE GOT TO SET UP MAYBE A NO FLY ZONE,
MAYBE A NO DRIVE ZONE SO THAT WE CAN ENFORCE THE
CONTAINMENT OF HIM.
/// END ACT ///
SENATOR HUTCHISON CALLS ON PRESIDENT CLINTON TO CONSULT WITH
CONGRESS ON WHAT SHE CALLS AN ENTIRE STRATEGY REGARDING IRAQ.
IN THE END, THE CONGRESS IS EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE U-S MILITARY
IF IT GOES INTO BATTLE AGAIN AGAINST IRAQ. PUBLIC OPINION POLLS
INDICATE THREE OUT OF FOUR AMERICANS WOULD SUPPORT ANY AIR
STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ. (SIGNED)
NEB/MLM/PLM
20-Feb-98 11:04 AM EST (1604 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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