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17 February 1998

• ISRAEL TO IRAQ: WE WON'T STRIKE FIRST ISRAEL LINE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1998
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing -- 17 February 1998 -- IRAQ Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia commitment to Iraqi compliance U.S. position on proposal for UN SecGen Kofi Annan travel to Iraq; criteria for decision, goals; timing; likelihood of Perm-Five agreement Necessity for UNSCOM inspectors' full, unfettered access to all suspect sites, UNSCOM integrity; composition of inspection team; number of sensitive sites Opportunity for diplomatic resolution not yet exhausted
• [EXCERPTS] TRANSCRIPT: WHITE HOUSE DAILY BRIEFING USIA 17 February 1998
• 17 Feb 98 -- UN SEC-GEN ANNAN CONTINUES PREPARATIONS FOR BAGHDAD MISSION
• 17 Feb 98 -- U.S. WILL ACT IF IRAQ DOES NOT HONOR COMMITMENTS, CLINTON SAYS
• 17 Feb 98 -- TRANSCRIPT: CLINTON REMARKS ON IRAQ AT THE PENTAGON FEB. 17
• 17 Feb 98 -- INDYK: US HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON DIPLOMACY TO END IRAQ CRISIS
• 17 Feb 98 -- U.S. SUPPORTS SECRETARY GENERAL'S MISSION TO IRAQ
• 17 Feb 98 -- TEXT: US ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR ISRAEL, OCCUPIED TERRITORIES
• 17 Feb 98 -- TEXT: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON IRAQ CRISIS
• 17 Feb 98 -- TEXT: IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROGRAMS
• 17 Feb 98 -- TEXT: AMB. BILL RICHARDSON 2/14 BEIJING PRESS STATEMENT
• IRAQ FRANCE Voice of America 17 February 1998 -- ALTHOUGH FRANCE AGREES THAT IRAQ SHOULD COMPLY WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS AND ALLOW INSPECTIONS OF ITS WEAPONS SITES, IT IS FIRMLY OPPOSED TO MILITARY ACTION.
• KUWAIT / IRAQ Voice of America 17 February 1998 -- ALL ARAB GOVERNMENTS HAVE REGISTERED OPPOSITION TO A MILITARY OPERATION. BUT IN KUWAIT, THAT OPPOSITION IS TEMPERED BY MEMORIES OF THE 1990 IRAQI INVASION.
• IRAQ / DETROIT REACT Voice of America 17 February 1998 -- DETROIT HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATIONS OF ARABS OUTSIDE THE MIDDLE EAST, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ATTACK AGAINST IRAQ HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE CONCERNED
• CLINTON / IRAQ ONITER Voice of America 17 February 1998 -- TOP NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS TRAVEL TO OHIO LATER TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO PREPARE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FOR POSSIBLE U-S MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ
• CLINTON / IRAQ Voice of America 17 February 1998 --PUBLIC OPINION POLLS SHOW AMERICANS ARE DIVIDED OVER WHETHER FORCE SHOULD BE USED TO END THE SHOWDOWN WITH IRAQ
• CHINA / U-N / IRAQ Voice of America 17 February 1998 -- A CHINESE SPOKESMAN HAS REJECTED AS UNTRUE, REPORTS THAT CHINA HAS AGREED WITH THE UNITED STATES TO ABSTAIN IF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL VOTES ON WHETHER TO USE FORCE AGAINST IRAQ.
• BAHRAIN / PLANES Voice of America 17 February 1998 -- BAHRAIN SAYS IT IS NOT ALLOWING PLANES BASED ON ITS TERRITORY TO BE USED IN AN ATTACK ON IRAQ.
• U-N / IRAQ DIPLOMACY Voice of America 17 February 1998 -- UNITED STATES IS NOW SUPPORTIVE OF MR. ANNAN'S NEGOTIATING MISSION. THE P-5 WAS ABLE TO AGREE ORALLY WITH A NUMBER OF BASIC PRINCIPLES.
• IRAQ: WHAT IS THE U.S.'S STRATEGY? USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report - 17 February 1998 -- Analysts stressed again and again what they see as the futility of bombing Iraq. In particular, pundits dwelled on what they fear is Washington's failure to spell out goals and assess the fallout of the current U.S. approach to the standoff with Iraq.
• ACC units prepare for deployment February 17, 1998 - Air Combat Command Public Affairs
• More F-117A Nighthawks deploy to Southwest Asia Feb 17, 1998 - by Airman Chris Uhles 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs - About 140 troops and six F-117A Nighthawks from Holloman deployed last week to Southwest Asia to add to the Air Force aircraft and thousands of Air Force members already in the area.
• U.S. Hampers U.N. Chief's Iraq Plans -- Tuesday, February 17, 1998; Page A01 -- The United States blocked approval for a trip to Baghdad by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, who was in search of a diplomatic solution to the standoff. He said he would delay his trip in the hopes of winning support from the U.S.
• Raids May Strike at Power Structure -- Tuesday, February 17, 1998; Page A01 -- As President Clinton and his top advisers embark this week on what amounts to a marketing campaign for airstrikes on Iraq, the trend in their evolving war plan goes well beyond the emphasis in public on damaging prohibited weapons programs.
•   U.S. Seeks to Limit Role of U.N. Chief During Iraq Talks The New York Times 17 February 1998
•   Saddam's Ouster Is Urged, but Other Options Are Considered The New York Times 17 February 1998
•   While Many Favor Action Against Saddam, Some Express Doubt The New York Times 17 February 1998
• Bags Packed, Air Force Families Try to Prepare for Future The New York Times 17 February 1998
• Saudi Arabia: Reluctant Ally in Sensitive Position The New York Times 17 February 1998