DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243176
TITLE=CLINTON / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DEBORARH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE THAT THE JOINT
U-S - BRITISH MILITARY CAMPAIGN AGAINST IRAQ WILL MEET ITS GOAL
OF DEGRADING SADDAM HUSSEIN'S ABILITY TO DEVELOP AND USE WEAPONS
OF MASS DESTRUCTION. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE.
TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAYS HE IS CONVINCED THAT THE DECISION HE MADE
TO ORDER AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, EVEN
THOUGH IT WAS A DIFFICULT ONE.
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
I GAVE THE ORDER BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE CANNOT ALLOW
SADDAM HUSSEIN TO DISMANTLE UNSCOM AND RESUME THE
PRODUCTION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WITH IMPUNITY.
I BELIEVE THAT TO HAVE DONE SO WOULD HAVE, IN EFFECT,
GIVEN HIM A GREEN LIGHT TO DO WHATEVER HE MIGHT WANT TO
DO IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A
TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE MISTAKE.
// END ACT //
THE PRESIDENT SPOKE AS HE BEGAN A MEETING WITH JOINT CHIEFS OF
STAFF GENERAL HUGH SHELTON, DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN AND
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE AS A NEW
ROUND OF AIR STRIKES GOT UNDERWAY IN IRAQ.
MR. CLINTON DENIED THE ACTION WAS ORDERED TO DIVERT ATTENTION
FROM AN IMPENDING IMPEACHMENT VOTE AGAINST HIM.
// CLINTON ACTUALITY //
I DO NOT THINK ANY SERIOUS PERSON WOULD BELIEVE ANY
PRESIDENT WOULD DO SUCH A THING, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE
ANY ASTUTE PERSON WOULD BELIEVE SECRETARY COHEN AND
GENERAL SHELTON AND THE REST OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY
TEAM WOULD PARTICIPATE IN SUCH AN ACTION.
// END ACT //
SOME REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE CRITICIZED THE TIMING OF THE
MISSION, AS IT BEGAN ON THE EVE OF WHAT HAD BEEN A SCHEDULED VOTE
ON IMPEACHMENT -- A VOTE NOW POSTPONED BY AT LEAST A DAY.
MR. CLINTON SAID THE VOTE WOULD NOT UNDERCUT HIS AUTHORITY, AND
HE SAID HE INTENDED TO COMPLETE THE OPERATION.
U-S OFFICIALS WOULD NOT COMMENT ON THE DURATION OF THE MISSION,
DUBBED 'OPERATION DESERT FOX.'
// REST OPT //
MEANWHILE, MR. CLINTON WOULD NOT COMMENT ON REPORTS THAT IRAQI
TROOPS ARE ADVANCING TOWARD KUWAIT IN PREPARATION FOR A POSSIBLE
INVASION, SAYING ONLY THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN MUST KNOW WHAT A
DISASTROUS MISTAKE THAT WOULD BE.
HE ALSO COULD NOT CONFIRM IRAQI REPORTS OF HEAVY CIVILIAN
CASUALTIES RESULTING FROM THE AIR STRIKES. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE
MIGHT BE SOME UNINTENTIONAL CASUALTIES, BUT EMPHASIZED THAT
EVERYTHING WAS DONE TO MINIMIZE THEM. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/LTD/KL
17-Dec-98 12:43 PM EST (1743 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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