DATE=11/30/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42001
TITLE=IRAQI OPPOSITION
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: EXILED OPPONENTS OF SADDAM HUSSEIN ARE TRYING TO PUT
ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES AND FIND A COMMON STRATEGY TO TOPPLE THE
IRAQI LEADER. MOST SAY THE TIME IS RIPE FOR ACTION BECAUSE OF
SADDAM HUSSEIN'S INCREASING ISOLATION, EVEN IN THE ARAB WORLD.
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN TAKES A CLOSER LOOK.
TEXT: REPRESENTATIVES OF 16 IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS MET WITH
TOP-LEVEL BRITISH AND AMERICAN OFFICIALS IN LONDON LAST WEEK TO
SEEK THEIR SUPPORT FOR A COMMON CAUSE -- A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT
IN BAGHDAD.
THEIR MESSAGE NOW IS ONE OF UNITY OF PURPOSE, BUT THEIR PAST HAS
BEEN CLOUDED BY FACTIONAL INFIGHTING. THE IRAQI EXILES ARGUE
THAT THEIR DIFFERENCES ARE A NORMAL FEATURE OF ANY DEMOCRACY.
SHERIF ALI OF THE "CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY MOVEMENT" INSISTS THEY
CAN PUT ASIDE THEIR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES TO ADVANCE THEIR CAUSE.
/// ALI ACT ///
OUR GOALS ARE ONE. WE WANT A DEMOCRATIC REGIME IN IRAQ
AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SPECIAL EFFORTS NOW TO UNITE OUR
EFFORTS AND COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS TO WORK TOGETHER.
/// END ACT ///
PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO UNITE KURDS AND COMMUNISTS, ALONG WITH SUNNI
AND SHIITE MUSLIM GROUPS UNDER ONE UMBRELLA GROUP -- THE IRAQI
NATIONAL CONGRESS, OR I-N-C -- FALTERED BECAUSE OF DISPUTES OVER
LEADERSHIP AND LOGISTICS. THE I-N-C WANTS TO REVITALIZE ITS ROLE
AND MAY WELL USE SOME OF THE 97-MILLION DOLLARS OF U-S FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE TO DO THAT.
THE I-N-C'S NABIL MUSAWI SAYS THE GROUP HAS ALSO PROPOSED SETTING
UP A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT ON IRAQI SOIL, PREFERABLY IN THE
SOUTHERN NO-FLY ZONE PROTECTED BY BRITISH AND U-S SURVEILLANCE
AIRCRAFT.
/// MUSAWI ACT ///
WE BELIEVE IT IS FUTILE TO DECLARE A GOVERNMENT IN EXILE
IN LONDON OR PARIS. IT HAS TO BE ON IRAQI TERRITORY AND
DEMONSTRATE TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE THAT IT IS SERIOUS ABOUT
CHANGE BY GOING THERE, INSIDE IRAQ, AND SHARING THE
DAILY PROBLEMS THAT THE AVERAGE IRAQI HAS.
///END ACT ///
THE I-N-C HAD AN OPERATIONAL OFFICE IN THE AUTONOMOUS KURDISH
CITY OF SALAHUDDIN IN THE NORTHERN NO-FLY ZONE. BUT THE
DISSIDENTS AND AMERICAN C-I-A AGENTS WORKING WITH THEM WERE
FORCED TO FLEE THE AREA IN 1996. THAT'S WHEN IRAQI TROOPS
MARCHED IN TO SUPPORT THE KURDISH DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S PUSH TO OUST
A RIVAL KURDISH FACTION FROM THE AREA.
MR. MUSAWI SAYS IT IS TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT DIRECT MILITARY
SUPPORT FROM EITHER BRITAIN OR THE UNITED STATES.
//OPT// /// SECOND MUSAWI ACT ///
WHAT WE NEED TO DO FIRST AMONG US IS TO PRESENT A
UNIFIED POLITICAL AGENDA AND MECHANISM ON HOW TO GET TO
THE POINT WHERE WE ACTUALLY COMMENCE DISCUSSION OF
MILITARY AID AND TRAINING.
/// END ACT /// //END OPT//
IRAQI EXILES LIKE HAMID BAYATI OF THE "SUPSEME COUOCIL OF ISLAMIC
REVOLUTION IN IRAQ" INSIST IT IS NOT UP TO OTHERS TO DO THE
FIGHTING FOR THEM.
/// BAYATI ACT ///
IT IS UP TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN LEADER.
IT IS UP TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE TO DO THE JOB OF TOPPLING
THE IRAQI REGIME BUT WE WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE U-K
AND OTHER FRIENDLY GOVERNMENTS.
/// END ACT ///
CRITICS OF THE IRAQI OPPOSITION COMPLAIN THEY HAVE LITTLE CLOUT
INSIDE IRAQ, FROM WHERE ANY EFFECTIVE UPRISING AGAINST SADDAM
HUSSEIN MUST COME. THE REGIME'S TIGHT SECURITY APPARATUS HAS
THWARTED PAST COUP ATTEMPTS AND RESULTED IN THE PERIODIC
ASSASSINATION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S OPPONENTS AT HOME.
STILL, THE IRAQI EXILES IN LONDON AGREE THERE IS A NEW SENSE OF
URGENCY AFTER SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LATEST CONFRONTATIONS WITH THE
UNITED NATIONS AND HIS GROWING DIPLOMATIC ISOLATION. THE CRISIS
SHOWED LESS ENTHUSIASM AMONG FORMER IRAQ SUPPORTERS IN THE U-N
SECURITY COUNCIL -- LIKE FRANCE, RUSSIA AND CHINA. AT THE SAME
TIME, PRESIDENT CLINTON AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR
GAVE THEIR MOST PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE IRAQI OPPOSITION. THE
LOW-KEY RESPONSE AND WARNING ISSUED TO IRAQ BY MANY ARAB
NEIGHBORS HAS GIVEN THE DISSIDENTS SOME HOPE OF QUIETLY GAINING
MORE SUPPORT CLOSER TO HOME. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF
30-Nov-98 11:37 AM EST (1637 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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