DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243173
TITLE=BLAIR / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAYS BRITISH FIGHTER
JETS HAVE JOINED THE SECOND DAY OF ATTACKS AGAINST IRAQ. DEFENSE
MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THE PLANES ATTACKED TARGETS IN IRAQ AND
RETURNED SAFELY TO THEIR BASE IN KUWAIT. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE
KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS PRIME MINISTER BLAIR DISCUSSED THE
IRAQI SITUATION AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.
TEXT: PRIME MINISTER BLAIR SAYS A MILITARY STRIKE WAS THE ONLY
OPTION LEFT AFTER THE CRITICAL U-N REPORT OUTLINING SADDAM
HUSSEIN'S CONTINUING EFFORTS TO BLOCK U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS IN
IRAQ. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE AIR STRIKES ARE OVER, HE SAYS IS UP
TO SADDAM HUSSEIN
/// BLAIR ACT ///
I HOPE HE WILL FINALLY COME TO HIS SENSES AND RECOGNIZE
THE ONLY WAY TO FIND SUPPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY, AND A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, IS FULL
COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITY COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS.
/// END ACT ///
MR. BLAIR SAYS IF SADDAM HUSSEIN DOES NOT COOPERATE, BRITAIN IS
READY FOR MORE MILITARY ACTION TO MAKE SURE IRAQ'S MILITARY
CAPABILITIES ARE NOT REBUILT.
THE PRIME MINISTER REAFFIRMED THE BOMBINGS AGAINST IRAQ ARE
TARGETING ONLY SADDAM HUSSEIN'S MILITARY MACHINE.
! /// BLAIR ACT TWO ///
IS IT A SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE TO REMOVE SADDAM HUSSEIN?
THE ANSWER IS IT CANNOT BE. NO ONE WOULD BE BETTER
PLEASED IF HIS EVIL REGIME DISAPPEARED AS A DIRECT OR
INDIRECT RESULT OF OUR ACTION. BUT OUR MILITARY
OBJECTIVES ARE PRECISELY THOSE THAT WE HAVE SET OUT.
/// END ACT ///
MR BLAIR ALSO DISMISSED QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT THAT THE BOMBING
RAIDS WERE TIMED IN PART TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM PRESIDENT BILL
CLINTON'S IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS AT HOME.
/// BLAIR ACT THREE ///
THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS THAT THE TIMING OF MILITARY ACTION
IS SOMEHOW LINKED TO THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE UNITED
STATES. I REFUTE THIS ENTIRELY. I HAVE NO DOUBT AT
ALL THAT ACTION IS FULLY JUSTIFIED NOW. THAT IS MY OWN
STRONG PERSONAL VIEW. I KNOW THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON
REACHED THE SAME CONCLUSION FOR THE SAME REASONS. AND
HAD HE ACTED DIFFERENTLY OUT OF REGARD FOR U-S INTERNAL
POLITICS, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DERELICTION OF HIS DUTY
AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
/// END ACT ///
PRIME MINISTER BLAIR TOLD PARLIAMENT HE BELIEVES SADDAM HUSSEIN
WANTS TO DOMINATE HIS PEOPLE AND THE REGION BY MILITARY FORCE,
AND WILL TRY TO HOLD ONTO HIS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN
ORDER TO DO THAT. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH/RAE
17-Dec-98 12:16 PM EST (1716 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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