DATE=12/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243261
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ / CRITIC (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S AND BRITISH ATTACKS ON IRAQ HAVE MOVED INTO A
THIRD NIGHT WITH AIR AND MISSILE STRIKES ON A VARIETY OF TARGETS.
IT IS THE LARGEST AND MOST SUSTAINED ALLIED OPERATION AGAINST
IRAQ SINCE THE END OF THE GULF WAR NEARLY EIGHT YEARS AGO. BUT A
FORMER U-S FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER SAYS THE CAMPAIGN IS NOT GOING
FAR ENOUGH. RICHARD HAAS, A TOP NATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANT IN
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, GAVE HIS VIEWS IN AN APPEARANCE AT THE
BROOKINGS INSTITUTION HERE IN WASHINGTON FRIDAY. VOA'S DOUGLAS
ROBERTS HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: MR. HAAS SAYS THERE IS NO DOUBT THE U-S ATTACKS ON IRAQ
ARE FULLY JUSTIFIED, AND HE REJECTS ASSERTIONS THAT PRESIDENT
CLINTON ORDERED THE STRIKES SIMPLY TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM THE
DRAMATIC IMPEACHMENT HEARING NOW UNDER WAY IN THE U-S CONGRESS.
/// HAAS ACT ///
I SIMPLY DO NOT BUY (ACCEPT) THE IDEA THAT MR. CLINTON
AND THIS ADMINISTRATION DID THIS SIMPLY TO DISTRACT
ATTENTION AWAY FROM MR. CLINTON'S POLITICAL PREDICAMENT.
FIRST OF ALL, MR. CLINTON IS A SOPHISTICATED POLITICIAN.
HE KNOWS BETTER THAN ANYONE THAT THE IMPEACHMENT TRAIN
IS NOT GOING TO BE DERAILED BY THIS CONSIDERATION.
/// END ACT ///
BUT WHILE HE SUPPORTS THE DECISION TO STRIKE IRAQ, MR. HAAS SAYS
HE DISAGREES WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON BOTH THE SCOPE AND
DURATION OF THE MILITARY OPERATION.
HE SAYS WASHINGTON APPEARS TO HAVE DECIDED ON A LIMITED, PUNITIVE
STRIKE INTENDED TO DAMAGE BAGHDAD'S ABILITY TO PRODUCE WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION AS WELL AS ITS CONVENTIONAL MILITARY
CAPABILITIES.
IT WOULD BE WISER, HE ARGUES, TO EMBARK ON AN OPEN-ENDED CAMPAIGN
AIMED AT COMPELLING IRAQI COMPLIANCE WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS, AND ENSURING THAT THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARE
ALLOWED BACK INTO BAGHDAD TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK WITHOUT
INTERFERENCE FROM IRAQI AUTHORITIES.
A HEAVY AND SUSTAINED MILITARY OPERATION, HE SAYS, MIGHT ALSO
STIMULATE OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM WITHIN HIS
OWN REGIME.
/// HAAS ACT ///
AND THE GOAL WOULD AGAIN BE TO USE MILITARY FORCE TO TRY
TO BOMB IRAQ INTO COMPLIANCE (WITH U-N DEMANDS) AND TO
TRY TO STIMULATE THE CENTER, WHAT IS CLOSEST TO
SADDAM--ESSENTIALLY THE VERY SECURITY FORCES HE DEPENDS
ON--TO STIMULATE THEM INTO TURNING ON HIM.
/// END ACT ///
MR. HAAS SAYS WASHINGTON SHOULD PURSUE EFFORTS TO BUILD UP AND
UNITE THE IRAQI OPPOSITION IN EXILE, BUT ADDS THAT MILITARY
ACTION CAN BE USED TO BREED NEW INTERNAL OPPONENTS, FROM WITHIN
THE REPUBLICAN GUARDS CORPS AND THE OTHER ELITE UNITS THAT KEEP
SADDAM IN POWER.
/// HAAS ACT ///
THE GOAL WOULD BE THAT ONE MORNING, THESE PEOPLE WOULD
ESSENTIALLY GET TIRED OF BEING POUNDED BY AMERICAN
BOMBS, AND WOULD ESSENTIALLY SAY 'WE WOULD PREFER DYING
CHALLENGING SADDAM HUSSEIN THAN DYING AT THE HANDS OF
AMERICAN CRUISE MISSILES'. AND THAT OUGHT TO BE THE
GOAL OF THE AMERICAN BOMBING CAMPAIGN.
/// END ACT ///
MR. HAAS SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION APPEARS TO HAVE OPTED
FOR A LIMITED MILITARY OPERATION BECAUSE IT LACKS CONFIDENCE IN
ITS ABILITY TO SUSTAIN INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR A STRONGER
CAMPAIGN. BUT IN FACT, HE SAYS, MOST OF WASHINGTON'S ALLIES ON
THE ARABIAN PENINSULA WOULD PREFER A HEAVIER STRIKE ON BAGHDAD
AIMED AT BRING ABOUT A REAL CHANGE IN THE SITUATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/KL
18-Dec-98 4:03 PM EST (2103 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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