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DATE=12/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243104
TITLE=IRAQ / DIPLOMACY (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  BEFORE THE LATEST ATTACK ON IRAQ BEGAN, THE U-S STATE 
DEPARTMENT SPELLED OUT THE REASONS FOR THE AIRSTRIKES, SAYING 
THERE WAS NO HOPE OF IRAQI COMPLIANCE WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS.  
STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS.
TEXT:  AS HE LAID OUT THE REASONS FOR POSSIBLE AIRSTRIKES AGAINST
IRAQ, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAID IT APPEARED 
BAGHDAD HAD NO INTENTION OF ALLOWING U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO DO
THEIR WORK.
SPEAKING JUST HOURS BEFORE THE AIRSTRIKES BEGAN, MR. RUBIN 
RECITED A LIST OF IRAQI FAILURES TO COMPLY WITH THE U-N 
RESOLUTION THAT ENDED THE GULF WAR.
                        // RUBIN ACT 1 //
         THROUGHOUT THESE MANY LONG YEARS, IRAQ HAS MANAGED TO 
         BLOCK, IMPEDE, DELAY AND FRUSTRATE EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT 
         THAT RESOLUTION, RIGHT DOWN TO TODAY.  THERE IS NO END 
         IN SIGHT FOR THIS PATTERN OF OBFUSCATION, OBSTRUCTION 
         AND OUTRIGHT VIOLATION.
                          // END ACT //
MR. RUBIN SAYS THE REPORT THAT CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR 
RICHARD BUTLER GAVE TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL TUESDAY GAVE THE 
UNITED STATES NO REASON TO BELIEVE IRAQ WILL EVER COMPLY WITH U-N
RESOLUTIONS.  CITING IRAQ'S LATEST PROMISE TO ALLOW UNIMPEDED 
ACCESS TO INSPECTORS, HE SAID IRAQ HAD BROKEN A NEW RECORD IN ITS
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ITS PROMISES.
                       // RUBIN ACT 2 // 
         WE (THE UNITED STATES) CAN FIND NO GROUNDS FOR OPTIMISM 
         THAT THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP, IF LEFT TO ITS OWN DEVISES, 
         WILL SUDDENLY CHANGE COURSE AND OPT FOR COOPERATION IN 
         THE NEW YEAR OF IF IT REMAINS IN POWER IN THE NEW 
         MILLENNIUM.  ON THE CONTRARY, THE LATEST REPORT FROM 
         CHAIRMAN BUTLER GIVES THE CLEAREST POSSIBLE INDICATION 
         THAT IRAQ'S COOPERATION WILL AT BEST BE LIMITED, 
         SELECTIVE AND INTERMITTENT.  AND THIS IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD
         ENOUGH.
                          // END ACT //
BEFORE THE AIRSTRIKES BEGAN, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE 
ALBRIGHT SPOKE BY TELEPHONE WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF SEVERAL
COUNTRIES THAT NOW SIT ON THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.
BUT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS MOST COUNTRIES AGREE IRAQ IS 
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LATEST CRISIS, AND HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES 
HAS THE AUTHORITY TO U-S FORCE UNDER EXISTING RESOLUTIONS.
                        // RUBIN ACT 3 //
         AND IT IS CLEAR TO US THAT THROUGH THIS PATTERN OF 
         VIOLATIONS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 687, IRAQ 
         IS IN FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF THAT RESOLUTION AND 
         THEREFORE THE AUTHORITY TO USE MILITARY FORCE EXISTS IN 
         SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.
                          // END ACT //
FACED WITH IRAQ'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL 
RESOLUTIONS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID IT SAW NO NEED FOR FURTHER
DIPLOMACY OR WARNINGS.  ABOUT FOUR HOURS LATER, THE AIRSTRIKES 
BEGAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/RRM
16-Dec-98 5:30 PM EST (2230 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.