DATE= MAY 7, 1998
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-07775
TITLE= EDITORIAL: IRAQ'S CHEMICAL WEAPONS DECEPTION
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
MAY 7, 1998.
ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE
VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
VOICE:
IRAQ CONTINUES TO VIOLATE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN REGARD TO THE
REQUIREMENT THAT IRAQ ELIMINATE ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
AS A RESULT, THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL IS CONTINUING THE SANCTIONS
ON IRAQ.
THE LATEST COUNCIL DECISION CAME AFTER A REPORT BY U-N
INSPECTORS SHOWED THAT IRAQ IS CONCEALING PROHIBITED WEAPONS. IN
MARCH, EXPERTS DISCOVERED MUSTARD GAS AGENT IN ARTILLERY SHELLS
FROM AN IRAQI MUNITIONS DEPOT. HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR SHELLS ARE
UNACCOUNTED FOR. IRAQI OFFICIALS HAVE REPEATEDLY CLAIMED THAT
THEY DESTROYED ALL SUCH WEAPONS IN 1991. THE MOST RECENT CLAIM
WAS MADE LAST WEEK AT THE U-N -- ON THE VERY DAY THAT U-N CHIEF
INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER ANNOUNCED THAT THE IRAQI MUSTARD GAS
AGENT HAD BEEN FOUND.
MUSTARD GAS IS ONE OF THE GHASTLIEST WEAPONS KNOWN. THERE IS
NO ANTIDOTE. IT PRODUCES BLISTERS AND DAMAGES THE SKIN, EYES AND
RESPIRATORY AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRACTS. LARGE DOSES CAN BE
LIFE-THREATENING. SMALLER DOSES CAN HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS,
INCLUDING AN INCREASED RISK OF CANCER.
THE EFFECTS OF MUSTARD GAS AND NERVE GAS CAN BE SEEN IN THE
KURDISH CITY OF HALABJA. THERE, IN MARCH 1988, IRAQI FORCES
CARRIED OUT A SUSTAINED CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK. ABOUT
FIVE-THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND TEN-THOUSAND WOUNDED. LARGE
NUMBERS OF SURVIVORS HAVE LOST THEIR EYESIGHT OR SUFFERED OTHER
SERIOUS DISORDERS, INCLUDING CANCER. HALABJA HOSPITALS REPORT AN
ABNORMALLY HIGH NUMBER OF PREGNANCIES RESULTING IN MISCARRIAGES
OR CHILDREN WITH BIRTH DEFECTS.
THIS IS WHAT IRAQI CHEMICAL WEAPONS BROUGHT TO HALABJA. THIS
IS WHAT THE REGIME OF SADDAM HUSSEIN COULD BRING TO PEOPLE
ELSEWHERE IF IRAQ IS ALLOWED TO MAINTAIN AN ARSENAL OF CHEMICAL
WEAPONS. IRAQ MUST COMPLY WITH ITS U-N OBLIGATIONS. IT MUST
ELIMINATE ALL ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. UNTIL THAT
HAPPENS, IRAQ WILL REMAIN SUBJECT TO INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS.
ANNCR:
THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS,
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202)
619-1043.
06-May-98 3:28 PM EDT (1928 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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