DATE=11/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241474
TITLE=KUWAIT / U-S / IRAQ (S & L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ONE OF KUWAIT'S TOP MILITARY COMMANDERS HAS VOICED
SUPPORT FOR A U-S ATTACK ON IRAQ IN THE FACE OF BAGHDAD'S
CONTINUED REFUSAL TO COOPERATE WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
GENERAL FAHAD AL-AMIR, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF OF KUWAIT'S ARMED
FORCES, MADE THE COMMENT IN WASHINGTON TUESDAY, AND WE HAVE A
REPORT FROM V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS.
TEXT: GENERAL AMIR CALLED IRAQ'S LATEST DEFIANCE OF THE U-N
SECURITY COUNCIL A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. SADDAM HUSSEIN IS REFUSING
TO DEAL WITH THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS, HE SAID, SO THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST REACT. AND THE ONLY RESPONSE THE
IRAQI LEADER UNDERSTANDS, HE ADDED, IS MILITARY ACTION.
///AL-AMIR ACT///
THE TARGET SHOULD BE SADDAM HUSSEIN AND HIS MILITARY
MACHINE.
///END ACT///
SINCE THE LATEST CONFRONTATION WITH IRAQ ERUPTED, THERE HAS BEEN
VIRTUALLY NO PUBLIC SUPPORT IN THE ARAB WORLD FOR MILITARY ACTION
AGAINST BAGHDAD.
BUT GENERAL AMIR LEFT NO DOUBT THAT MOST OF THE OIL RICH ARAB
STATES OF THE GULF WOULD SUPPORT A WESTERN ATTACK, AS LONG AS IT
WAS INTENDED TO SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGE IRAQ'S WAR MACHINE.
/// REST OPT FOR LONG ///
///AL-AMIR ACT///
IF THE STRIKE IS GOING TO BE TO DAMAGE SADDAM HUSSEIN
AND HIS ARSENAL, EVERYBODY WILL BE FOR THAT. IF THE
STRIKE IS JUST A MATTER OF SHOWING FORCE, THEN I BELIEVE
THERE ARE SOME OF THE G-C-C (GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL)
COUNTRIES ARE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.
///END ACT///
THE KUWAITI OFFICIAL SAID HE BELIEVES A MAJOR WESTERN STRIKE
AGAINST BAGHDAD COULD TRIGGER WHAT HE CALLED A NEW REVOLUTION IN
SOUTHERN IRAQ, WHERE SHIITE MUSLIM REBELS HAVE BEEN WAGING A LOW
INTENSITY GUERRILLA WAR AGAINST IRAQI TROOPS.
THE KUWAITI GENERAL SAID A SUSTAINED WESTERN MILITARY CAMPAIGN TO
WEAKEN IRAQ'S MILITARY CAPABILITY COULD HASTEN THE DOWNFALL OF
SADDAM HUSSEIN.(SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PT
10-Nov-98 4:02 PM EST (2102 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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