DATE=3/1/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227429
TITLE=IRAQ OPTIONS (L)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SEVERAL KEY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SAY IT IS TIME FOR
PRESIDENT CLINTON TO ADOPT A PLAN TO TOPPLE IRAQI PRESIDENT
SADDAM HUSSEIN. IRAQ'S LATEST WEAPONS INSPECTION AGREEMENT WITH
THE UNITED NATIONS HAS AVERTED A MILITARY CONFRONTATION. BUT
SENIOR LAWMAKERS BELIEVE SUCH AGREEMENTS ARE WORTHLESS AS LONG AS
THE IRAQI LEADER REMAINS IN POWER, AND IT IS TIME TO TAKE OTHER
MEASURES TO DEAL WITH WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE A CONTINUING PROBLEM.
MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE.
TEXT: IF THE IRAQI LEADER ADHERES TO THIS LATEST AGREEMENT CHIEF
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER BELIEVES IT WILL BE
EFFECTIVE. BUT HE TOLD A-B-C'S "THIS WEEK" PROGRAM HE, LIKE
OTHERS, HAS CONCERNS ABOUT A CONCESSION MADE TO IRAQ ALLOWING
DIPLOMATS TO ACCOMPANY WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
// BUTLER ACT //
WHEN WE BRING THOSE TEAMS TOGETHER, WE WILL HAVE TO DO
IT IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT DESTROY SOMETHING THAT IS
QUITE IMPORTANT TO US, THAT IS TO TURN UP ON NO NOTICE.
WE DO NOT WANT TO TELEGRAPH IN ADVANCE THAT WE ARE
COMING. THAT COULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF ANY GIVEN
INSPECTION.
// END ACT //
BUT SOME MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE SAYING THE REAL PROBLEM TO BE
DEALT WITH IS NOT THE INSPECTIONS, BUT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR BOB KERREY SPOKE ON N-B-C'S "MEET THE PRESS."
// KERREY ACT //
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE HAVE GOT TO CHANGE THE OBJECTIVE
IN IRAQ (TO) TRY TO REPLACE THIS DICTATORSHIP WITH
DEMOCRACY. AND I JUST DO NOT THINK THAT UNTIL THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DECLARES THAT AS OUR OBJECTIVE
AND STOPS SAYING THAT WE ARE NOT TRYING TO OVERTHROW HIM
AND (INSTEAD) TRIES TO ORGANIZE A GOVERNMENT IN EXILE
AND SUPPORT THAT GOVERNMENT IN EXILE, IT IS GOING TO BE
VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO GIVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THE
KIND OF SAFETY THEY WANT.
// END ACT //
REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN BELIEVES THERE MAY BE NO BETTER
ALTERNATIVE, AND THE UNITED STATES MAY HAVE TO ACT UNILATERALLY.
// MCCAIN ACT //
IT IS PATENTLY OBVIOUS TO ALL OBSERVERS THAT AS LONG AS
HE IS (SADDAM) THERE, WE ARE FACED WITH THIS ENORMOUS
CHALLENGE. AND REMEMBER, HE IS THE ONLY LEADER ON THE
WORLD SCENE WHO HAS USED WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
TWICE AND THAT MAKES HIM RATHER UNIQUE.
// END ACT //
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT TOLD LAWMAKERS LAST WEEK
THE ADMINISTRATION IS PLANNING TO WORK -- AS SHE PUT IT --
EFFECTIVELY, WITH IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS. THE DIPLOMAT SAID SHE
LOOKS FORWARD TO A POST-SADDAM REGIME.
BUT ALL EFFORTS TO FOSTER AN EFFECTIVE IRAQI OPPOSITION SINCE THE
END OF THE GULF WAR HAVE FAILED TO DISLODGE THE IRAQI LEADER.
SOME SENATORS SAY HE EMERGED FROM THE LATEST CRISIS APPEARING
STRONGER, AFTER LAST WEEK'S WEAPONS INSPECTION AGREEMENT WITH THE
UNITED NATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/RAE
01-Mar-98 1:42 PM EST (1842 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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