DATE=9/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238350
TITLE=ALBRIGHT/IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS REITERATED
THAT MILITARY FORCE COULD STILL BE USED AGAINST IRAQ IF IT AGAIN
TRIES TO BUILD MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONS OR THREATEN ITS
NEIGHBORS. HER REMARKS WERE IN A SPEECH TO A MILITARY VETERANS
ORGANIZATION--THE AMERICAN LEGION-- IN NEW ORLEANS. V-O-A'S GIL
BUTLER HAS A REPORT.
TEXT: SECRETARY ALBRIGHT SHARPLY DISAGREED WITH CRITICS OF
AMERICAN POLICY ON IRAQ AND THE INTERNATIONAL INSPECTION OF ITS
WEAPONS FACILITIES. SHE SAID THE CRITICS ARE WRONG WHEN THEY
BLAME AMERICA FOR THE WORLD'S FAILURE TO UNCOVER THE FULL TRUTH
ABOUT IRAQ'S CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAMS.
MS. ALBRIGHT SAID AMERICA HAS BEEN BY FAR THE STRONGEST
INTERNATIONAL BACKER OF THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
LAST WEEK, FORMER WEAPONS INSPECTOR SCOTT RITTER SAID AMERICAN
OFFICIALS HAD UNDERMINED SEARCHES THROUGH INTERFERENCE AND
MANIPULATION. HE RESIGNED FROM THE PROGRAM SAYING THE UNITED
STATES AND THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAD NOT SUPPORTED A TOUGH
INSPECTION REGIME.
IN HER NEW ORLEANS SPEECH, SECRETARY ALBRIGHT REPEATED THAT
MILITARY FORCE IS STILL AN OPTION.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
FOR ALL ITS BLUSTER, IRAQ REMAINS WITHIN THE STRATEGIC
BOX SADDAM HUSSEIN'S FOLLY CREATED FOR IT SEVEN YEARS
AGO. AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE WILL DECIDE HOW AND WHEN TO
RESPOND TO IRAQ'S ACTIONS BASED ON THE THREAT THEY POSE
TO IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS, TO REGIONAL SECURITY AND TO U-S
VITAL INTERESTS. OUR ASSESSMENT WILL INCLUDE SADDAM'S
CAPACITY TO RECONSTITUTE, USE OR THREATEN TO USE WEAPONS
OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IF IRAQ
TRIES TO BREAK OUT OF ITS STRATEGIC BOX, OUR RESPONSE
WILL BE SWIFT AND STRONG.
/// END ACT ///
THE SECRETARY OF STATE ALSO ASKED THE AMERICAN LEGION VETERANS TO
SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY FUNDS TO IMPROVE
SECURITY AT AMERICAN MISSIONS FOLLOWING THE TERRORIST BOMBINGS AT
U-S EMBASSIES IN EAST AFRICA.(SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/TMD/WFR
09-Sep-98 4:39 PM EDT (2039 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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