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13 November 1998

• RFE/RL Iraq Report, Volume 1, Number 1 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 13 November 1998 -- RFE/RL'S RADIO FREE IRAQ GOES ON THE AIR / IRAQ CRITICIZES NEW SERVICE / AN END TO THE ERA OF INSPECTIONS? / I WARNS OF "IRAQI PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE." / SADDAM EXPANDS "ETHNIC CLEANSING" ACROSS IRAQ / AN ETHNIC RUBIK'S CUBE / IRAQ'S WATER PROBLEM BECOMES POLITICAL
• Collision Course with Iraq? PBS-TV The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, November 13, 1998 - JOHN PIKE: I think that it's going to be critical for us to go after his security apparatus. They're the ones that have been acquiring this technology. They're the ones that have been concealing it from the United Nations. And they're the ones that basically shield Saddam Hussein from the Iraqi population. The problem is we know where those buildings are and we also know that they're in neighborhoods where civilians live.
• Confronting Iraq Jerusalem Post - Editorial Fri, Nov 13, 1998 -- According to the Federation of American Scientists, UNSCOM (the UN inspectors) believes that over 31,000 chemical warfare munitions are unaccounted for. Chemical precursors sufficient to produce 200 tons of VX - one drop of which is enough to kill - are also presumed to be in Saddam's hands.
• Who has reneged: Iraq or the Security Council? Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations -- Iraq has complied with all its commitments according to section C of resolution 687. Iraq's compliance with resolution 687 means that it no longer has any prohibited weapons or the means to produce and develop them and that all the scientific or industrial factories are under rigid and intrusive ongoing monitoring system in spite of the fact that these factories have no relevance to weapons.
• More on the Debate Over US Policy Iraq News, FRIDAY 13 NOVEMBER 1998 -- NBC Evening News reported that a CIA assessment, recently sent to the White House, explained how difficult it will be for the US to destroy chemical and biological weapons targets in Iraq. Some facilities are dual use or close to civilian populations. They are being stricken from the target list. As the list shrinks, some at DoD worry that not enough damage will be done.
• Text of the letter sent by H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations to H.E. Mr. Saddam Hussein, President of the Republic of Iraq, on 13 November 1998 Iraq has maintained for a long time that it wants to see light at the end of the tunnel. I also want to see the lifting of sanctions, so that Iraq can regain its place among the community of nations. As I have said repeatedly, the only way to achieve this is for Iraq to fully cooperate with UN Security Council.
• Text of Letter From UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to Saddam Hussein November 13, 1998
• CONFRONTING DICTATORS Voice of America 13 November 1998 -- HELMUT SONNENFELDT, NOW WITH THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION, SAYS U-S RELUCTANCE TO USE FORCE MAY HAVE ACTUALLY WEAKENED U-S FOREIGN POLICY AND EMBOLDENED YUGOSLAVIA'S SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND IRAQ'S SADDAM HUSSEIN.
• White House Briefing Room November 13, 1998 -- Q Is the President going to Asia tomorrow night? MR. LOCKHART: As I told you this morning, the President very much wants to go to APEC. As I also told you this morning and throughout this week, we're watching the situation in Iraq very closely. And when and if there is a change in the schedule, I'll let you know.
• CLINTON / IRAQ Voice of America 13 November 1998 -- BESIDES HIS STOP IN MALAYSIA, MR. CLINTON IS ALSO TO VISIT JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND THE U-S TERRITORY OF GUAM DURING HIS SCHEDULED 10-DAY TRIP.
• US TO IRAQ: "REVERSE COURSE OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES" By Jane A. Morse USIA 13 November 1998 -- After months of intensive diplomatic efforts to persuade Iraq to comply with United Nations demands, the United States has one simple message to the recalcitrant government of Saddam Hussein, according to Secretary of State Albright: "reverse course or face the consequences."
• COUNTDOWN ON IRAQ: 'FINAL SETTLEMENT OF ACCOUNTS IS NEAR' USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report November 13, 1998 -- With hopes for a diplomatic solution fading and sensing imminent action against Baghdad, papers from around the globe reviewed the catalogue of cheat and retreat, compliance and defiance that has led to this juncture. Many papers were quick to point out that military action is fraught with risk, and that achieving desired aims, whether they be to "crush or contain" Saddam, would be tricky.
• Peace Action Urges Calls to Clinton and Hussein to Prevent Bombing - November 13, 1998 - Peace Action called on President Clinton to end the brutal sanctions against the people of Iraq and to prevent bombing attacks which could incite retribution and escalate tensions in the Middle East. The nation's largest grassroots peace organization also sent a message to Saddam Hussein to allow the UN weapons inspections to continue.
• WORLD LEADERS SUPPORT FIRM U.S. STAND ON IRAQ USIA 13 November 1998 -- Leaders in Europe, the Arab world, and elsewhere have supported the firm U.S. stand on Iraq and voiced frustration over Iraq's decision to cease cooperation with UN weapons inspectors.
• IRAQ / SITREP Voice of America 13 November 1998 -- WHILE AN ATTACK ON IRAQ SEEMS IMMINENT, SOME IRAQI OFFICIALS HINT THEY MIGHT BE WILLING TO BACK DOWN, IF U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN BROKERED A DEAL.
• U-N - IRAQ Voice of America 13 November 1998 -- DIPLOMATS FROM SEVERAL COUNTRIES ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL SAY THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROPOSALS THAT WOULD PREVENT A MILITARY CONFRONTATION WITH IRAQ.
• U-N / IRAQ Voice of America 13 November 1998 -- RUSSIA TRIED TO CONVINCE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SUPPORT A MORE ACTIVE MEDIATION ROLE BY THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL. CHINA BELIEVES THERE IS STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO THE CRISIS.
• RUSSIA / IRAQ Voice of America 13 November 1998 -- PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS DISPATCHED A LETTER TO IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT "THE USE OF FORCE MAY BECOME A REALITY" IN THE CURRENT CRISIS.
• U-N / IRAQ FOOD Voice of America 13 November 1998 -- IMPORTS INTO IRAQ OF FOOD, MEDICINE AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO A VIRTUAL HALT (FRIDAY), AMID GROWING THREATS OF MILITARY ACTION AGAINST BAGHDAD.
• U.S. Aiming for Swift 1-2 Punch in Striking Iraq By PAUL RICHTER, Los Angeles Times Friday, November 13, 1998 -- Some analysts believe that the most promising targets may be the secret-police apparatus, including the Special Security Service that plays a critical role in keeping Hussein in power. "We could really cramp his style by hitting this apparatus," said John Pike, who follows intelligence issues for the Federation of American Scientists. "It might be our greatest chance of getting rid of him."