DATE=11/16/98
TYPE=U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST
NUMBER=6-11008
TITLE=MONDAY'S EDITORIALS
BYLINE=ANDREW N. GUTHRIE
TELEPHONE=619-3335
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
CONTENT=
INTRO: THE ABORTED U-S MILITARY CONFRONTATION WITH IRAQ OVER THE
ISSUE OF CONTINUED U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION IS THE MAJOR TOPIC IN
MANY EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS MONDAY.
TEXT: WITH B-52 BOMBERS IN THE AIR, READY TO FIRE CRUISE
MISSILES, AND SHIPS NEARBY, ALSO WAITING FOR THE ORDER TO FIRE ON
IRAQ, THE MILITARY ATTACK WAS CALLED OFF AT THE LAST SECOND WHEN
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AGAIN AGREED TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS
TO DO THEIR WORK. IT WAS A MINUET THE UNITED STATES AND IRAQ
HAVE BEEN THROUGH BEFORE, AND OPINIONS VARY IN THE U-S PRESS AS
TO HOW IT WAS HANDLED, AND WHAT THE EFFECTS WILL BE. "THE LOS
ANGELES TIMES" CALLS IT: "ANOTHER TIRESOME ROUND."
VOICE: THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ ISN'T OVER. IT HAS ONLY BEEN PUT
ON HOLD, UNTIL THE NEXT TIME SADDAM HUSSEIN SENSES HE
CAN GET AWAY WITH BLOCKING THE WORK OF THE U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS WHILE PARADING IRAQ BEFORE THE WORLD AS THE
BLAMELESS VICTIM OF AN INHUMANE ECONOMIC BLOCKADE. ...
NEXT TIME - - AND ONLY THE SELF-DELUDING CAN BELIEVE
THERE WILL BE NO NEXT TIME - - HUSSEIN CAN BE EXPECTED
TO BE SHREWDER.
TEXT: "THE NEW YORK POST" IS NOT IMPRESSED WITH PRESIDENT
CLINTON'S CONDUCT.
VOICE: BILL CLINTON ACTUALLY STAMMERED AND CLEARED HIS THROAT
YESTERDAY AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS EFFORT TO CLAIM
VICTORY IN THE IRAQ STANDOFF. COULD IT BE THAT EVEN HE
WAS EMBARRASSED BY HIS OWN WEASELLY [SLANG FOR
"UNDERHANDED] CONDUCT? THAT EVEN THE WORLD'S MOST
ACCOMPLISHED LIAR COULDN'T GET THE WORDS OUT WITHOUT
CHOKING ON THEM? ... WHENEVER CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE
DEMANDED THAT THIS PRESIDENT RISE TO THE OCCASION AND
REALLY ** BE ** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS] PRESIDENT, HE HAS
FAILED THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD.
TEXT: "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IS PLEASED BY THE PRESIDENT'S ACTION,
AND THE WAY THE SITUATION WAS RESOLVED, WITHOUT FORCE, BUT SAYS
CLEARLY THIS SHOULD BE THE LAST SUCH "DANCE."
VOICE: THE APPARENT PEACEFUL RESOLUTION IS WELCOME, AND CAN BE
CREDITED TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S RENEWED WILLINGNESS TO
BACK DIPLOMACY WITH THE THREAT OF FORCE. BUT THIS MUST
BE THE LAST TIME THAT IRAQ TRIES TO MANIPULATE THE
SECURITY COUNCIL. TOO MANY TIMES BEFORE IRAQ HAS TRIED
TO SLIP FREE OF ITS COMMITMENTS TO COOPERATE IN THE
ELIMINATION OF ITS STOCKS OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL
WEAPONS AND THE MISSILES THAT CAN DELIVER THEM. ....IF
BAGHDAD AGAIN ATTEMPTS TO RESTRICT INSPECTIONS,
WASHINGTON, WITH SUPPORT FROM BRITAIN AND OTHER ALLIES,
NEED NOT WAIT FOR WEEKS OR EVEN DAYS TO RESPOND. .....
IF THERE IS A NEXT TIME, WASHINGTON HAS RIGHTLY MADE IT
CLEAR THAT THE AMERICAN REACTION IS LIKELY TO BE PROMPT
AND CERTAIN.
/// OPT ///
TEXT: "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" IS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS
BRINKSMANSHIP EITHER, BUT POSITS ITS OWN IDEAS OF HOW TO HANDLE
SADDAM IN MONDAY'S EDITORIAL.
VOICE: THE OPTIMUM SOLUTION WOULD BE FOR THE SECURITY COUNCIL
TO TAKE TWO STEPS SIMULTANEOUSLY: ONE: SEND ITS
INSPECTORS BACK ** IMMEDIATELY** [ITALICS FOR EMPHASIS]
TO PUSH INTO ANY AND ALL SITES LIKELY TO HIDE WEAPONS
COMPONENTS, PLANS, OR RECORDS OF BIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL,
AND NUCLEAR PROGRAMS. TWO: AUTHORIZE U-S FORCES IN THE
GULF TO MAKE STRIKES AT WILL AT KEY SECURITY TARGETS AND
WEAPONS SITES - - IF INSPECTORS ARE THWARTED DESPITE
IRAQ'S PROMISE OF FULL COOPERATION.
/// END OPT ///
TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM
TODAY'S U-S NEWSPAPERS.
NEB/ANG/KL
16-Nov-98 11:11 AM EST (1611 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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