DATE=11/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241714
TITLE=CLINTON / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL KEEP THE
PRESSURE ON IRAQ UNTIL IT MAKES GOOD ON ITS LATEST PLEDGE TO
RESUME U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. BAGHDAD'S DECISION TO REVERSE
COURSE AND ALLOW INSPECTORS BACK INTO THE COUNTRY NARROWLY
AVERTED U-S MILITARY ACTION. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: IN AN APPEARANCE BEFORE REPORTERS (SUNDAY) AT THE WHITE
HOUSE, MR. CLINTON SAID IRAQ HAS BACKED DOWN FROM ITS DEFIANCE OF
THE WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
BUT HE SAID THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. HE SAID IRAQ MUST LIVE UP TO ITS
OBLIGATIONS TO UNCONDITIONALLY RESUME COOPERATION WITH U-N ARMS
INSPECTORS.
// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
UNTIL WE SEE COMPLETE COMPLIANCE, WE WILL REMAIN
VIGILANT, WE WILL KEEP UP THE PRESSURE, WE WILL BE READY
TO ACT.
// END ACT //
DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE UNITED STATES -- WITH
ITS SUBSTANTIAL MILITARY BUILD-UP IN THE PERSIAN GULF -- IS
PREPARED TO USE FORCE AGAINST IRAQ AT ANY TIME IF IT SHIRKS ITS
RESPONSIBILITIES.
HE CONFIRMED REPORTS MR. CLINTON HAD GIVEN AN ORDER TO STRIKE
IRAQ JUST BEFORE BAGHDAD ISSUED ITS LATEST OVERTURE, AND THE
ORDER WAS QUICKLY RESCINDED.
THE PRESIDENT SAYS IT WAS U-S WILLINGNESS TO TAKE MILITARY
ACTION, COUPLED WITH WORLD OPINION AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN, THAT
CAUSED THE IRAQI LEADER TO REVERSE HIS OCTOBER 31ST DECISION TO
BAR WEAPONS INSPECTORS FROM IRAQ.
ALTHOUGH SOME U-S ALLIES WERE SAID TO BE CONCERNED THE UNITED
STATES WAITED TOO LONG TO USE FORCE AGAINST BAGHDAD, MR. CLINTON
DEFENDED HIS DECISION TO HOLD OUT ON SUCH ACTION.
// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
I BELIEVE WE HAVE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR A VERY
SPECIFIC REASON: IF WE TAKE MILITARY ACTION, WE CAN
SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADE THE CAPABILITY OF SADDAM HUSSEIN
TO DEVELOP WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND TO DELIVER
THEM. BUT THAT WOULD ALSO MARK THE END OF UNSCOM. SO
WE WOULD DELAY IT, BUT THEN WE WOULD HAVE NO OVERSIGHT,
NO INVOLVEMENT, NO INSIGHT INTO WHAT IS GOING WITHIN
IRAQ. IF WE CAN KEEP UNSCOM IN THERE WORKING, AND GIVE
HIM ONE MORE CHANCE TO BECOME HONORABLY RECONCILED BY
OBSERVING U-N RESOLUTIONS, WE SEE THAT RESULTS CAN BE
OBTAINED.
// END ACT //
WHILE VOWING TO CONTINUE TRYING TO CONTAIN THE THREAT IRAQ POSES
TO THE REGION, THE PRESIDENT SAID THE UNITED STATES WOULD ALSO
STEP UP EFFORTS TO BRING ABOUT A POST-SADDAM HUSSEIN ERA.
// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
OVER THE LONG TERM, THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THAT THREAT
IS THROUGH A NEW GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD THAT IS COMMITTED
TO REPRESENT AND RESPECT ITS PEOPLE, NOT REPRESS THEM,
THAT IS COMMITTED TO PEACE IN THE REGION. OVER THE PAST
YEAR, WE HAVE DEEPENED OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FORCES OF
CHANGE IN IRAQ, RECONCILING THE TWO LARGEST KURDISH
OPPOSITION GROUPS, BEGINNING BROADCASTS OF RADIO FREE
IRAQ THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WE WILL INTENSIFY THAT
EFFORT.
// END ACT //
OFFICIALS SAID LATER THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT CALLING FOR THE
OUTRIGHT OVERTHROW OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, BUT RATHER WAS FOCUSING ON
WORKING TO BUILD A STRONG IRAQI OPPOSITION TO BRING ABOUT
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE.
NOW THAT THE STANDOFF WITH IRAQ APPEARS TO HAVE EASED, U-S
OFFICIALS SAY MR. CLINTON WILL LIKELY GO AHEAD A SCHEDULED TRIP
TO JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA LATER IN THE WEEK. HE IS EXPECTED TO
LEAVE LATE TUESDAY.
THE PRESIDENT CANCELLED THE FIRST STOP ON THAT TOUR -- A VISIT TO
MALAYSIA FOR AN ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC SUMMIT. SECRETARY OF STATE
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT CUT SHORT HER VISIT THERE TO RETURN TO
WASHINGTON TO MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/RAE
15-Nov-98 1:49 PM EST (1849 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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