DATE=08/13/98
TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
NUMBER=6-10859
TITLE=MORE IRAQI INTRANSIGENCE
BYLINE=ANDREW N. GUTHRIE
TELEPHONE=619-3335
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
CONTENT=
INTRO: THE FACT THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN IS AGAIN DEFYING THE UNITED
NATIONS BY WITHDRAWING COOPERATION FROM THE WEAPONS INSPECTION
TEAMS IS CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL ANGER AND FRUSTRATION IN THE U-S
PRESS.
THIS LATEST CONFRONTATION IS BEING VIEWED BY THE PRESS AS A SNUB
OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, AND MANY PAPERS ALSO CRITICIZE THE
U-S POLICY TOWARD IRAQ, SAYING THAT IS FLAWED AND NOT NEARLY
TOUGH ENOUGH.
WE HAVE WITH US NOW _________________ WHO HAS A SAMPLING IN
TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.
TEXT: WHILE SOME PAPERS ARE COMMENTING THAT THIS LATEST
BREAKDOWN IN THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION SUPERVISION CAN BE
ATTRIBUTED TO WEAKNESS ON THE PART OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION,
"THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE" SAYS THE BLAME BELONGS TO THE
UNITED NATIONS.
VOICE: THE DIRECT BLAME FOR THE LATEST CRISIS OVER BLOCKING
UNITED NATIONS ARMS INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ BELONGS,
CLEARLY, WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN. THIS IS ONE MORE ACT IN
THE DICTATOR'S ENDLESS REPERTOIRE OF OBSTRUCTION, DECEIT
AND DEFIANCE. SAY ONE THING, DO ANOTHER. PROMISE TO
COMPLY WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS, THEN
SABOTAGE COMPLIANCE. ... SADDAM HUSSEIN IS EASY TO
UNDERSTAND. HE'S A RUTHLESS THUG UTTERLY DEVOID OF ANY
RESTRAINING SCRUPLES. HE'LL DO WHATEVER HE THINKS HE
CAN GET AWAY WITH TO PRESERVE HIS POWER AND REVIVE HIS
DREAMS OF CONTROLLING THE OIL-RICH PERSIAN GULF REGION.
... ONLY A SHOW OF U-N UNITY AND RESOLVE CAN GIVE
DIPLOMACY THE STEEL IT NEEDS TO BRING SADDAM'S OUTLAW
REGIME INTO COMPLIANCE. FAILING THAT, PRESIDENT
CLINTON'S HARD CHOICE WOULD BE TO SUMMON A CREDIBLE
THREAT OF FORCE OR WATCH SADDAM RISE AGAIN AS A MENACE
IN THE STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT PERSIAN GULF.
TEXT: IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, "THE OREGONIAN" IN PORTLAND
TRIES TO DETERMINE WHY THE IRAQI LEADER DECIDED TO STOP
COOPERATING AT THIS JUNCTURE.
VOICE: ... MAYBE ... THE UNITED NATIONS' INSPECTION TEAM'S
FINAL QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS GERM-WARFARE STOCKS WERE
GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE MARK. OR MAYBE SOME OTHER ODD
TWIST IN DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN AFFAIRS WAS THE REASON WHY
THE IRAQI PRESIDENT ONCE AGAIN HALTED COOPERATION WITH
THE U-N TEAM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF HE HAS FULFILLED HIS
PROMISE TO DESTROY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. ...
UNTIL THAT CERTIFICATION, THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS
NO CREDIBLE OPTION BUT TO MAINTAIN THE ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ TO FORCE COOPERATION WITH THE
U-N TEAM. /// OPT /// SADDAM REMAINS A POTENTIAL
TROUBLEMAKER, NOT MERELY FOR THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL
BUT FOR THE MIDDLE EAST. IT'S NOT FOR THE UNITED
STATES, WHICH CERTAINLY DOESN'T WANT ANOTHER CONFLICT
WITH HIM, BUT FOR THE STABILITY OF THE REGION THAT HE
NEEDS TO BE RESTRAINED FROM MOVING IN THE BRUTAL
DIRECTIONS HE APPARENTLY WOULD PREFER TO GO. /// END OPT
///
TEXT: "THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS" IN TEXAS SAYS THAT "IF
DIPLOMACY FAILS, COMPLIANCE SHOULD BE ENFORCED."
VOICE: U-N INSPECTORS WERE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS TOWARD THAT
GOAL [OF CERTIFYING THAT IRAQ HAS STOPPED MAKING
NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS] - - UNTIL
LAST WEEK, WHEN MR. HUSSEIN BLOCKED THEIR WORK AND
DEMANDED THAT THE SANCTIONS BE LIFTED AS A CONDITION OF
ALLOWING THEM TO RESUME. THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, OF
WHICH THE UNITED STATES IS A PERMANENT MEMBER, SHOULD
NOT LET HIM GET SWAY WITH IT. IT SHOULD INSIST THAT MR.
HUSSEIN STAND ASIDE OR SUFFER MILITARY CONSEQUENCES.
... THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS RIGHT TO GIVE U-N
SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN A CHANCE TO GIVE DIPLOMACY
A CHANCE TO WORK. IN THE END, HOWEVER, THE THREAT OF
MILITARY ACTION TO FORCE MR. HUSSEIN'S COMPLIANCE MAY BE
THE ONLY VIABLE PROD. THE UNITED STATES, WHICH WOULD
LEAD ANY STRIKE AGAINST IRAQ, SHOULD BEGIN TO PREPARE
ITSELF FOR THAT EVENTUALITY.
TEXT: "THE LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK TIMES'" TAKE A DIFFERENT
VIEW, BLAMING INATTENTION AND INDECISIVENESS ON THE PART OF THE
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PRESENT STALEMATE. FIRST "THE NEW
YORK TIMES."
VOICE: THESE FIRST DAYS OF AUGUST HAVE BROUGHT A DISQUIETING
RETREAT BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ON IRAQ. WITHOUT
SAYING AS MUCH, THE WHITE HOUSE SEEMS ON THE VERGE OF
ALTERING SEVEN YEARS OF AMERICAN POLICY BY LETTING
SADDAM HUSSEIN SLIP FREE OF THE INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO
PREVENT HIM FROM DEVELOPING A NEW ARSENAL OF BIOLOGICAL
AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS. THAT WOULD BE A GRAVE MISTAKE.
... WITHOUT A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT MESSAGE FROM
WASHINGTON THAT IT IS PREPARED TO ENFORCE THE INSPECTION
SYSTEM, IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS CANNOT BE RELIABLY
CONTAINED.
TEXT: AND LASTLY, FROM CALIFORNIA, THIS POINT OF VIEW FROM "THE
LOS ANGELES TIMES."
VOICE: CONFRONTED LAST WEEK WITH BAGHDAD'S REFUSAL TO COOPERATE
WITH THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS, THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL
COULD DO NO BETTER THAN PRODUCE ITS CUSTOMARY DEMAND
THAT IRAQ BEHAVE ITSELF, POINTEDLY OMITTING ANY 'OR
ELSE' TO LEND EMPHASIS TO ITS DETERMINATION. THE UNITED
STATES PROVED TO BE NO MORE DECISIVE. .... FOR NOW, THE
ADMINISTRATION IS TEMPORIZING. MAYBE, DESPITE ITS
EARLIER TOUGH WORDS, THAT'S ALL IT INTENDS TO DO. IF
SO, AND IF BAGHDAD DOES NOT YIELD TO U-N
SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN'S LATEST PLEA TO RESUME
COOPERATING WITH THE ARMS INSPECTORS, [SADDAM] HUSSEIN
WILL HAVE ACHIEVED A MAJOR POLITICAL VICTORY.
TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF COMMENT FROM
THE U-S PRESS ON THE LATEST EPISODE IN THE CONTINUING STRUGGLE TO
FREE IRAQ OF LETHAL WEAPONS.
NEB/ANG/KL
13-Aug-98 1:04 PM EDT (1704 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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