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DATE=11/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241059
TITLE=CLINTON/IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   PRESIDENT CLINTON CONVENED HIS NATIONAL SECURITY 
ADVISERS (MONDAY) TO DISCUSS IRAQ'S DECISION TO HALT COOPERATION 
WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS, WHICH MR. CLINTON DESCRIBES AS 
COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.  V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE 
WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT:   MR. CLINTON TOLD REPORTERS AFTER THE NATIONAL SECURITY 
COUNCIL MEETING -- THE SECOND IN AS MANY DAYS ON IRAQ -- THAT NO 
OPTIONS FOR RESPONDING TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LATEST MOVE WERE BEING
RULED OUT. 
BUT THERE WERE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS OF ANY CHANGE IN U-S OR ALLIED 
DEPLOYMENTS IN THE GULF REGION, AND WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN JOE 
LOCKHART SAID U-S FORCES ALREADY IN THE AREA ARE CAPABLE OF 
DEALING AS HE PUT IT "QUICKLY AND FORCEFULLY" IF CALLED UPON TO 
ACT.
SPEAKING AT WHITE HOUSE HEALTH CARE EVENT, MR. CLINTON DEPICTED 
THE LATEST TURN OF EVENTS AS ANOTHER ATTEMPT BY SADDAM HUSSEIN TO
ESCAPE THE SANCTIONS IN PLACE AGAINST BAGHDAD SINCE THE END OF 
THE GULF WAR.
INSTEAD OF DIVIDING THE WORLD COMMUNITY, HOWEVER, MR. CLINTON 
SAID THE GAMBIT HAS  BACKFIRED AND ONLY STRENGHENED INTERNATIONAL
RESOLVE, AS SEEN IN SATURDAY'S UNANIMOUS U-N SECURITY COUNCIL 
CONDEMNATION OF IRAQ:
                     ///CLINTON ACTAULITY///
         FOR IRAQ, THE ONLY PATH TO LIFTING SANCTIONS IS THROUGH 
         COMPLETE  COOPERATION WITH THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS, 
         WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS, RUN-AROUNDS OR ROADBLOCKS. IN THE 
         COMING DAYS WE WILL BE CONSULTING CLOSELY WITH OUR 
         ALLIES AND OUR FRIENDS IN THE REGION. UNTIL THE 
         INSPECTORS ARE BACK ON THE JOB, NO OPTIONS ARE OFF THE 
         TABLE.
                          ///END ACT///
MR. CLINTON SAID THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE CONSULTING CLOSELY 
WITH ITS ALLIES IN THE NEXT FEW DAY. IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT 
DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN, WHO BROKE OFF A TRIP TO ASIA 
BECAUSE OF THE LATEST CRISIS, IS BEING SENT TO EUROPE AND THE 
MIDDLE EAST AS PART OF THE PROCESS. 
THE UNITED STATES HAS KEPT A LARGE MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE GULF 
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WHEN IRAQ TRIGGERED ANOTHER 
CONFRONTATION BY TRYING TO BAR AMERICAN INSPECTORS FROM THE U-N 
CONTIGENT. 
THIS INCLUDES SOME 200 MILITARY PLANES AND A NAVAL FLEET LED BY 
THE  NUCLEAR AIRCRAFT CARRIER EISENHOWER CAPABLE OF FIRING 
LONG-RANGE TOMAHAWK CRUISE MISSILES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/PT
02-Nov-98 4:16 PM EST (2116 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.