DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243158
TITLE=IRAQ OPPOSITION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: EXILED IRAQI OPPONENTS VIEW WITH CAUTION THE AIR STRIKES
AGAINST IRAQI MILITARY TARGETS AND WARN THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S
MILITARY CAPABILITIES WILL NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY WEAKENED BY THE
ACTION. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN SUMS UP THEIR REACTIONS
FROM LONDON.
TEXT: SOME IRAQI DISSIDENTS LIKE NABIL MUSAWI OF THE "IRAQI
NATIONAL CONGRESS" DOUBT THAT THE MILITARY STRIKES WILL SERIOUSLY
WEAKEN SADDAM HUSSEIN.
/// MUSAWI ACT ///
SEE IT FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW: THIS IS A VERY LIMITED
CAMPAIGN WITH A VERY LIMITED SCOPE AND IT WILL NOT
ACHIEVE HALF OF WHAT IT CLAIMS TO ACHIEVE. SADDAM HAS
BEEN ANTICIPATING THE MILITARY STRIKES FOR WEEKS.
THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT IN IRAQI PAPERS EVERY
SINGLE DAY. ALL THE WEAPONS, ALL THE LOCATIONS ALL THE
CAMPS OF THE SPECIAL SECURITY SERVICES HAVE BEEN CHANGED
OR ROTATED OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. I DON'T THINK IT
WILL DO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO HIS REGIME.
/// END ACT ///
//OPT// MR. MUSAWI WARNS THAT THE IRAQI LEADER WILL USE THE
ATTACKS TO RALLY PUBLIC SUPPORT BY PORTRAYING HIMSELF AS A VICTIM
OF U-S AGGRESSION.
/// SECOND MUSAWI ACT ///
THE FACT THAT HE WILL EMERGE FROM TWO OR THREE DAYS OF
MILITARY STRIKES UNSCATHED WILL BE CONSIDERED BY HIM AND
SOME PEOPLE IN THE REGION A VICTORY FOR SADDAM HUSSEIN,
BECAUSE HE CONFRONTED THE UNITED STATES AGAIN AND HE
LIVED TO TELL THE TALE.
/// END ACT /// //END OPT///
HAMID AL-BAYATI OF THE "SUPREME COUNCIL OF ISLAMIC REVOLUTION" IN
IRAQ QUESTIONS THE TIMING OF THE LARGEST AIR CAMPAIGN SINCE THE
1991 GULF WAR.
/// BAYATI ACT ///
THE FACT THAT THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN IS VERY CLOSE
AND THE FACT THERE IS SOME INTERNAL PROBLEMS FOR
PRESIDENT CLINTON IN THE UNITED STATES GIVES THE PEOPLE
THE IMPRESSION THAT THE MILITARY STRIKE CAME AS A RESULT
OF SOME SPECIAL INTERESTS FOR THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT.
AND THE REAL BATTLE BETWEEN THE IRAQI PEOPLE AND THE
IRAQI REGIME HAS BEEN IGNORED COMPLETELY.
/// END ACT ///
MR BAYATI ALSO IS NOT CONVINCED THE AIR STRIKES WILL AFFECT
SADDAM HUSSEIN'S IRON GRIP ON IRAQ.
/// SECOND BAYATI ACT ///
IF IT'S GOING TO UNDERMINE SADDAM'S CAPABILITY OF
THREATENING THE IRAQI PEOPLE, THAT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR
CAMPAIGN. BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU FROM THE STATEMENTS
I'VE HEARD, THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THREATS AGAINST THE
IRAQI PEOPLE. //OPT// MR. CLINTON HIMSELF MENTIONED THE
THREAT AGAINST KUWAIT AND KURDS ONLY AND THAT IS SHORT
OF PROTECTING IRAQI PEOPLE AND PREVENTING THE REGIME
FROM OPPRESSING THE IRAQI PEOPLE.
/// END ACT /// //END OPT//
EXILED IRAQI DISSIDENTS ARE CALLING FOR A COORDINATED MILITARY
AND POLITICAL CAMPAIGN TO HELP THEM REMOVE SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM
POWER. BUT BRITISH AND U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THAT IS NOT
THE AIM OF THIS MILITARY ACTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/PCF
17-Dec-98 8:30 AM EST (1330 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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