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DATE=12/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243295
TITLE=CLINTON / IRAQ (S&L)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  FOUR DAYS INTO A U-S AND BRITISH AIR ASSAULT ON IRAQ, 
PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE BELIEVES THE MISSION IS GOING WELL  BUT
IN HIS WEEKLY RADIO BROADCAST TO THE NATION TODAY, CORRESPONDENT 
NICK SIMEONE REPORTS MR. CLINTON GAVE  NO  HINT ABOUT HOW LONG 
AIR STRIKES AGAINST PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S MILITARY TARGETS 
WILL CONTINUE. 
TEXT:  WITH THE ONSET OF THE MUSLIM HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN, 
PRESIDENT CLINTON TOOK TIME SATURDAY TO DEFEND THE U-S AND 
BRITISH MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ, WHICH HAVE ANGERED MUSLIMS
IN MANY ARAB CAPITALS.   
THE PRESIDENT SAID HE HAD  NO  CHOICE BUT TO ACT NOW, AFTER 
UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS AGAIN FOUND IRAQ HAD BROKEN A 
PROMISE -- MADE JUST LAST MONTH -- TO ALLOW UNRESTRICTED ACCESS 
TO SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES.  MR. CLINTON SAID, THE UNITED STATES 
WILL REMAIN POISED TO ACT INDEFINITELY, EVEN AFTER THIS CURRENT 
ROUND OF AIR STRIKES ENDS.
                       /// CLINTON ACT ///
         WE STAND READY TO USE FORCE AGAIN IF SADDAM TAKES 
         THREATENING ACTION SUCH AS SEEKING TO RECONSTITUTE HIS 
         WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, MENACING HIS NEIGHBORS OR 
         HIS OWN KURDISH CITIZENS OR CHALLENGING ALLIED AIRCRAFT.
                         /// END ACT ///
IN A SEPARATE VIDEOTAPED MESSAGE TO THE ARAB WORLD MARKING 
RAMADAN, MR. CLINTON SAID THE U-S ACTION IN IRAQ IS  NOT  
DIRECTED AGAINST MUSLIMS, BUT AGAINST AN IRAQI LEADER WHO 
THREATENS MUSLIMS AND NON-MUSLIMS ALIKE.  THE IRAQI PEOPLE, HE 
SAID, CAN EXPECT THE UNITED STATES TO STRENGTHEN ITS ENGAGEMENT 
WITH IRAQIS WHO WANT A NEW GOVERNMENT.
                    /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///
IN THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS, 
CONGRESSMAN SAM JOHNSON OF TEXAS MADE CLEAR AMERICA'S WILL TO 
CONTAIN THE IRAQI LEADER WILL  NOT  BE DILUTED BY THE IMPEACHMENT
PROCESS UNDERWAY IN WASHINGTON.  
                       /// JOHNSON ACT ///
         THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE PERSIAN GULF ARE CONDUCTING A 
         MISSION TO FIGHT TYRANNY ABROAD, AND WE MUST SUPPORT 
         THEM BY PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF OUR
         DEMOCRACY AT HOME.  TO SADDAM HUSSEIN AND ANY OTHER 
         TYRANT AROUND THE WORLD WHO MAY THINK THAT AMERICA IS 
         WEAKENED:  DO  NOT  TEST OUR WILL.  DO  NOT  DOUBT OUR 
         STRENGTH.
                         /// END ACT ///
(SIGNED)
NEB/NJS
19-Dec-98 12:15 PM EST (1715 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.