DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP
NUMBER=6-11059
TITLE=A SKEPTICAL WORLD REACTS TO U-S IRAQ ATTACK
BYLINE=ANDREW N. GUTHRIE
TELEPHONE=619-3335
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS
CONTENT=
INTRO: A SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL WORLD PRESS GREETED THE U-S ATTACK
ON IRAQ WITH CONCERNS SIMILAR TO SOME U-S NEWSPAPERS, NAMELY THAT
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION MAY HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED, AT LEAST
IN PART, BY THE PENDING IMPEACHMENT HEARING IN THE HOUSE.
WE GET A SAMPLING OF EARLY REACTION FROM SOME CORNERS OF THE
GLOBE, NOW FROM _______________ IN THIS WEEK'S WORLD OPINION
ROUNDUP.
TEXT: THE ATTACK, ANNOUNCED LATE IN THE AFTERNOON WEDNESDAY,
WASHINGTON TIME, CAME TOO LATE FOR COMMENT IN SOME MORNING PAPERS
AROUND THE WORLD.
OPINION RANGES FROM SUPPORT FOR THE JOINT U-S-BRITISH ATTACKS,
WHICH MANY PAPERS DEEM "UNAVOIDABLE" ..... TO SUSPICION THAT THE
TIMING OF THE ATTACK, ON THE EVE OF THE SCHEDULED HOUSE
IMPEACHMENT VOTE IS SUSPECT. WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN BRITAIN,
WHERE THE NEWSPAPERS OF AMERICA'S ONLY ALLY IN THIS ACTION, ARE
GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE. "THE
GUARDIAN" IS, BUT WITH SOME RESERVATIONS.
VOICE: THE AMERICANS AND THE BRITISH SHOW A READINESS TO DEAL
WITH SADDAM MILITARILY, BUT THIS MASKS DOUBTS ABOUT
WHERE SUCH ACTION MIGHT LEAD. .... BOMBING ALSO CARRIES
LARGE RISKS. SADDAM WILL PROTECT TARGETS LIKE THE
PALACES BY INDUCING CIVILIANS TO CONVERGE ON THEM. HE
COULD CONCEIVABLY HAVE, AND IT IS JUST CONCEIVABLE HE
MAY USE, CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS WHICH THE U-N
INSPECTORS HAVE FAILED TO FIND.
TEXT: "THE TIMES" CALLS THE AIR CAMPAIGN "UNAVOIDABLE," AND
CONTINUES:
VOICE: THE ONLY REMAINING QUESTION IS WHETHER SADDAM PREFERRED
TO SUBJECT HIS PEOPLE TO PUNISHING AIR ATTACKS RATHER
THAN GIVE UP THESE WEAPONS, OR WHETHER HE GAMBLED THAT,
WITH IMPEACHMENT THREATENING MR. CLINTON, HE WOULD AGAIN
ESCAPE UNSCATHED. EITHER WAY, FACTS HAD TO BE FACED.
/// OPT /// ... IT WAS RIGHT NOT TO WAIT ON THE U-N.
... SADDAM DELIBERATELY FORCED THIS GRIM CONCLUSION.
THE RESPONSE HAD TO BE SWIFT AND DECISIVE.
TEXT: DETERMINATION SEEMS TO BE ON THE MIND OF "THE DAILY
TELEGRAPH" WHICH WARNS IN ITS HEADLINE "NOW SEE IT THROUGH."
/// END OPT ///
HOWEVER "THE EXPRESS" HAS ITS DOUBTS ABOUT THE TIMING, AS DO
MANY U-S DAILIES.
VOICE: IF YOU BELIEVE IN COINCIDENCE, THEN THIS IS ONE OF THE
GREATEST IN HISTORY. PRESIDENT CLINTON IS FACING AN
IMPEACHMENT HEARING [AND] ORDERS THE BOMBING OF IRAQ.
IT IS, WITHOUT DOUBT, THE MOST CYNICAL PLOY OF A CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAINTED BY CYNICISM
....
/// OPT ///
ARE WE BEING DRAWN INTO A BLOODY CONFLICT MERELY TO
BOLSTER AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT WHO FINDS HIMSELF IN GRAVE
DOMESTIC DIFFICULTIES?
TEXT: JUST ACROSS THE CHANNEL, IN PARIS, THE FRENCH DAILY
"LIBERATION" IS ALSO SKEPTICAL.
VOICE: WASHINGTON HAS DECIDED TO PUT AN END TO THIS CAT AND
MOUSE GAME ... BUT THE U-S DECISION NEVERTHELESS RAISES
SERIOUS QUESTIONS. FIRST, BECAUSE OF THE VERY THIN
PRETEXT USED TO LAUNCH THE STRIKE ... THE PRETEXT DOES
NOT JUSTIFY SUCH A MASSIVE STRIKE WITH THE MASS
DESTRUCTION THAT GOES WITH IT.
TEXT: THE REGIONAL DAILY "OUEST FRANCE" IN RENNES, SPECULATED:
VOICE: [PRESIDENT CLINTON] EXPECTS AT LEAST TWO THINGS FROM
THESE STRIKES. AN INTERNATIONAL AFFIRMATION OF U-S
LEADERSHIP [AND] A DOMESTIC REPRIEVE ON THE IMPEACHMENT
PROCEDURE. THE COINCIDENCE OF THESE TWO EVENTS LEADS
ONE TO DOUBT THE BASIS FOR THE U-S DECISION STRIKE ///
OPT /// ....STILL, SADDAM IS THE ONE AND ONLY PERSON ...
FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT IS HAPPENING TO HIS PEOPLE.
/// END OPT ///
TEXT: IN DENMARK, COPENHAGEN'S "EKSTRA BLADET" RAN THIS
EDITORIAL IN THURSDAY'S [12/17] EDITIONS SUPPORTING THE ATTACK,
BUT COMMENTING:
VOICE: [PRESIDENT CLINTON] ... WILL, OF COURSE, FACE
ACCUSATIONS THAT HE INITIATED THE ATTACK TO TAKE THE
SPOTLIGHT AWAY FROM THE IMPEACHMENT CASE. BUT THESE
ACCUSATIONS ARE UNREASONABLE... THE TYRANNICAL HUSSEIN
IS A ... BRUTAL CYNIC WHO REPRESENTS A LETHAL DANGER TO
THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS. ... THEREFORE "EKSTRA
BLADET" SUPPORTS THE ANGLO-AMERICAN ATTACK.
TEXT: FOR SPANISH REACTION, HERE IS "EL PAIS" FROM MADRID:
VOICE: ... [WE WOULD ALSO EXPECT THAT] THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT
HAS A STRATEGY AS WELL AS MILITARY TACTICS UP HIS SLEEVE
... REGARDING HOW TO DEAL WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN AND THE
SUFFERING IRAQI POPULACE ONCE THE LAST BOMB HAS FALLEN.
TEXT: ACROSS TOWN, HOWEVER, "EL MUNDO" WAS MUCH LESS
SYMPATHETIC.
VOICE: [ALTHOUGH] IT IS, OF COURSE, OBVIOUS THAT SADDAM HAS
DONE EVERYTHING HE COULD RECENTLY TO INCITE SUCH AN
ATTACK ... ITS COINCIDENCE WITH THE SCHEDULED
IMPEACHMENT VOTE SPARKS SUSPICIONS THAT [MR.] CLINTON IS
PLAYING DOMESTIC POLITICS WITH HIS MISSILES.
/// OPT ///
TEXT: AND IN SLOVENIA, LJUBLJANA'S "DELO" GRIMACES, AND NOTES:
VOICE: MANY PEOPLE PRAY TODAY THAT SHELLS WHICH FLY OVER IRAQ
WERE SMART - - SMARTER THAN THE POLICY CONTROLLING THEM
- - AND THAT ONE ... WOULD HIT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
/// END OPT ///
TEXT: QUICKLY TO THE MIDDLE EAST, WHERE OPINIONS ARE ALSO MIXED.
IN ISRAEL, TEL AVIV'S "HAARETZ" NOTED IN THURSDAY'S EDITIONS
[12/17]:
VOICE: THE UNITED STATES HAS OVERCOME PAST DILEMMAS, THE NEED
TO EXHAUST ALL DIPLOMATIC PROCEDURES BEFORE DROPPING
BOMBS, AND THE BURDENSOME MORAL QUESTION OF HURTING
INNOCENT PEOPLE. IT HAS ALSO EXHAUSTED ITS USE OF
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ... THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO WIN
THE WAR IT STARTED, WHICH IS BECOMING ONE OF THE LONGEST
WARS IN WHICH IT HAS BEEN INVOLVED.
TEXT: IN MOROCCO, "AL MUNADHAMA" HAS THIS FRONT-PAGE COMMENTARY
IN THURSDAY'S PAPERS.
VOICE: IN A COVERT ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY THE U-S AND BRITISH
AGGRESSION AGAINST IRAQ, RICHARD BUTLER PRESENTED THE
U-N A REPORT FULL OF FALSEHOODS ... WE WONDER WHETHER
THE WORLD WILL ENTER THE THIRD MILLENNIUM UNDER THE
SHADOW OF U-S HEGEMONY AND ARROGANCE IMPOSED ON THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND WORLD ORGANIZATIONS .... IN
ORDER TO SAFEGUARD U-S AND ZIONIST INTERESTS.
TEXT: TURNING TO QATAR, ON THE GULF, ONE OF DOHA'S DAILIES
"AS-SHARQ" ASKS:
VOICE: ...WHO REALLY SUFFERS? OF COURSE, THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ,
WHO CONTINUE TO STARVE UNDER THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AND
BOYCOTTS, WITHOUT ANY HOPE OF SALVATION. ... WE CALL
ON INTERNATIONAL LEADERS AND THE LEADERS OF IRAQ TO
LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF REASON THAT WE HOPE WILL GUIDE
THE SECURITY COUNCIL. NOW, THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WE CAN
DO BUT PRAY TO GOD TO PRESERVE THE IRAQI PEOPLE FROM
ANOTHER WAR AND LIFT THEN OUT OF THEIR SEVERE SUFFERING.
TEXT: AND NOW, BRIEFLY, FAR DOWN IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC, WHERE IN
AN EDITORIAL RUNNING IN FRIDAY'S [12/18] SYDNEY'S, "DAILY
TELEGRAPH" THE AUSTRALIAN PAPER SUPPORTS THE STRIKES AS DOES ITS
GOVERNMENT.
VOICE: ... PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HAD NO OTHER CHOICE THAN TO
AUTHORIZE THE AIR STRIKES ... AGAINST THE CHEMICAL AND
BIOLOGICAL WEAPON STOCKPILES OF SADDAM HUSSEIN. IT WAS
NOT A DECISION TAKEN LIGHTLY OR IMPULSIVELY. ... DESPITE
WHAT CRITICS OF MR. CLINTON MIGHT WANT TO BELIEVE ABOUT
HIS MOTIVE, IT WAS NOT A DECISION TAKEN IN ISOLATION OR
WITHOUT SUPPORT. ..... IN AUSTRALIA, BOTH PRIME
MINISTER JOHN HOWARD AND OPPOSITION LEADER KIM BEAZLEY
SUPPORTED THE STRIKES AND WERE RIGHT TO DO SO. SADDAM
HAS USED CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN THE PAST AGAINST IRANIAN
TROOPS AND KURDISH CIVILIANS IN NORTHERN IRAQ ... THE
WORLD CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF SADDAM USING
THESE FEARFUL WEAPONS AGAIN.
TEXT: ON THIS CONTINENT, THE INFLUENTIAL AND RESPECTED TORONTO
"GLOBE AND MAIL" HEADLINES ITS THURSDAY EDITORIAL: "DROP A BOMB
TO STOP A BOMB," ADDING:
VOICE: THE UNITED STATES WAS LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO STRIKE
AT IRAQ .... THIS IS A REAL POLICY RESPONDING A TO A
PLAIN-AS-DAY CRISIS, NOT SOME ADVERTISING GIMMICK. AND
OTTAWA IS RIGHT TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN POSITION ....
TEXT: BUT IN THE CANADIAN CAPITAL, "THE OTTAWA CITIZEN" IS MORE
RESTRAINED, NOTING:
VOICE: BOMBING IRAQ IS THE RIGHT RESPONSE AT THE WRONG TIME.
IT COVERS FOR AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT WHOSE POLITICAL
FUTURE IS ON THE LINE ... STILL, IT IS THE RIGHT
RESPONSE, AND FREEDOM-LOVING NATIONS SHOULD BREATHE A
SIGH OF RELIEF THAT THE UNITED STATES, EVEN WEAKENED BY
THE CORRUPTION OF ITS OWN PRESIDENT, WAS WILLING TO
CONFRONT AN ENEMY OF WORD PEACE ...
TEXT: ON THAT NOTE, WE CONCLUDE THIS SAMPLING OF EARLY WORLD
REACTION FROM SOME QUARTERS, TO THE ATTACKS BY U-S AND BRITISH
FORCES AGAINST IRAQ.
NEB/ANG/RRM
17-Dec-98 5:22 PM EST (2222 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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