• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=1/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243862
TITLE=IRAQ / U-S REACT (L)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES HAS DENIED NEWS REPORTS THAT U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTORS PROVIDED THE U-S WITH INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION
TO HELP UNDERMINE THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT.  FROM THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS. 
TEXT:  STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS IT IS  NO  
SECRET THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS PROVIDED U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS
WITH INTELLIGENCE AND LOGISTICAL HELP. 
HE SAYS U-S SUPPORT WAS GIVEN AT THE DIRECT REQUEST OF UNSCOM FOR
THE PURPOSE OF HELPING TO FIND AND DESTROY IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION. 
                    /// FIRST RUBIN ACT ///  
         IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AT  NO  TIME DID THE U-S 
         WORK WITH ANYONE AT UNSCOM TO COLLECT INFORMATION WITH 
         THE PURPOSE OF UNDERMINING THE IRAQI REGIME. 
                        /// END ACT /// 
THE HEAD OF THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION PROGRAM, RICHARD BUTLER, 
HAS ALSO DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS, WHICH FIRST APPEARED (WEDNESDAY)
IN THE WASHINGTON POST AND BOSTON GLOBE NEWSPAPERS. 
// OPT //  STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY SECRETARY OF STATE 
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT TELEPHONED U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN 
EARLY IN THE DAY AFTER READING THE NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS. 
OFFICIALS SAY MR. ANNAN MADE CLEAR HE SUPPORTED THE WORK OF THE 
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS AND THE HEAD OF THE INSPECTION TEAM.  A 
SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N CHIEF SAID MR. ANNAN HAD  NO  EVIDENCE TO 
BACK UP NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS THAT ARMS INSPECTORS HELPED U-S 
INTELLIGENCE LISTEN IN ON SECRET IRAQI COMMUNICATIONS.  // END 
OPT //
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN CALLED THE REPORTS 
"MISCHIEF MAKING," AIMED AT DEFLECTING ATTENTION FROM IRAQ'S 
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS. 
                    /// SECOND RUBIN ACT /// 
         THE PEOPLE WHO WERE PURPORTING TO SPEAK FOR THE 
         SECRETARY GENERAL, AND ARE ATTRIBUTED AS SUCH, MUST BE 
         EITHER INCREDIBLY IGNORANT ABOUT THE WORKINGS OF UNSCOM,
         OR BE MIS-GUIDEDLY SYMPATHETIC TO THE POSITION OF SADDAM
         HUSSEIN. 
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. RUBIN ACKNOWLEDGED THE ASSISTANCE THE UNITED STATES HAS 
PROVIDED TO UNSCOM HAS LED TO WHAT HE CALLED SOME INTELLIGENCE 
SHARING. 
HOWEVER, HE SAID ANY ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY THE UNITED STATES WAS
SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO HELP UNSCOM WITH ITS MISSION.  AND HE 
AGAIN SAID THERE WOULD BE  NO  LIFTING OF SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ 
UNTIL THERE HAD BEEN AN ACCOUNTING OF ALL WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION.   (SIGNED) 
NEB/KBK/WDC/WTW
06-Jan-99 4:25 PM EST (2125 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.