DATE=1/11/99
TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
NUMBER=6-11092
TITLE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP: U-S AND UNSCOM
LAVON/WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: UNITED STATES OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGED LAST WEEK THAT THEY
GARNERED INTELLIGENCE ON IRAQ FROM UNITED NATIONS ARMS
INSPECTORS. THE U-S ALSO ADMITTED IT PROVIDED SATELLITE
INTELLIGENCE TO MEMBERS OF THE U-N INSPECTION TEAM KNOWN AS
UNSCOM. VOA'S__________HAS AMERICAN PRESS REACTION TO THE
REVELATIONS.
ANNCR: THE MIAMI HERALD SAYS ON ITS SUNDAY EDITORIAL PAGE THAT
IT'S TEMPTING TO SHRUG OFF CHARGES THAT THE UNITED STATES SPIED
ON IRAQ THROUGH THE OFFICES OF UNSCOM. BUT, ADDED THE PAPER, U-S
CREDIBILITY MAY SUFFER AS A RESULT. THE HERALD WRITES:
VOICE: ALTHOUGH MANY IN THE UNITED STATES WOULD LOVE TO BREACH
[IRAQI LEADER SADDAM] HUSSEIN'S GOVERNMENT, THE PROBLEM
IS USING UNSCOM AS COVER. THUS FAR, IT HASN'T BEEN SHOWN
THAT U-S OPERATIVES DID, IN FACT, MANIPULATE UNSCOM. BUT
TO DO SO WOULD DAMAGE THE UNITED NATIONS' CREDIBILITY TO
UNDERTAKE SUCH MISSIONS. MOREOVER, IT WOULD BOLSTER
HUSSEIN'S CASE AGAINST FURTHER U-S INVOLVEMENT IN
IRAQ... THE UNITED STATES MUST COME CLEAN, CLARIFY THE
ROLE OF ITS INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AND REAFFIRM ITS SUPPORT
OF THE UNSCOM'S MISSION AND INDEPENDENCE.
ANNCR: THE WASHINGTON TIMES IN A MONDAY EDITORIAL TAKES THE
OPPOSITE VIEW, POINTING OUT THAT U-S INTELLIGENCE GATHERING UNDER
THE AUSPICES OF UNSCOM WAS KNOWN TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
INSPECTION TEAM. THE TIMES ALSO NOTES THAT THE U-N OPERATION
FILLED IN DETAILS ON INTELLIGENCE THAT WERE LACKING FROM
TRADITIONAL U-S SOURCES. THE PAPER WRITES:
VOICE: UNSCOM HAD TO RELY ON HELP FROM U-N MEMBER NATIONS NOT
BEING IN POSSESSION OF MANY RESOURCES OF ITS OWN...IF
KEY UNSCOM OFFICIALS APPROVED OF THE SECRET PROGRAM,
THIS WASN'T AN AMERICAN CAMPAIGN ... INDEED, SPYING ON
SADDAM SEEMS AN EMINENTLY GOOD IDEA. NOT SO IGNORING OUR
OWN INTELLIGENCE.
ANNCR: THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS WRITES IN ITS SUNDAY EDITORIAL
COLUMN THAT THE REAL WINNER IN THE UNSCOM DEVELOPMENTS IS IRAQ'S
SADDAM HUSSEIN.
VOICE: BY UTILIZING UNSCOM, THE UNITED STATES AND THE U-N HAVE
UNDERMINED--IF NOT DESTROYED--THEIR CREDIBILITY NOT ONLY
WITH IRAQ BUT WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD. THEY ALSO HAVE
PROVIDED SADDAM WITH A PLAUSIBLE REASON TO DENY
ADMISSION TO ANY OTHER WEAPONS INSPECTORS. AND WHAT OF
THE NEXT IRAQ? WILL THE U-N EVER AGAIN BE ABLE TO SEND
IN INSPECTORS TO MONITOR AGREEMENTS? ONCE AGAIN, SADDAM
SITS BACK AND TWIRLS HIS MUSTACHE AND EMERGES A WINNER.
THE U-S EXERTS ALL THE EFFORT AND ACCOMPLISHES
NOTHING--EXCEPT TO COME OUT LOOKING RIDICULOUS.
ANNCR: AND WITH THAT EDITORIAL FROM THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, WE
CONCLUDE THIS EDITION OF THE U-S OPINION ROUNDUP AND THE UNITED
STATES AND THE UNITED NATIONS ARMS INSPECTION TEAM IN IRAQ KNOWN
AS UNSCOM. (SIGNED.)
NEB/NL/KL
11-Jan-99 12:47 PM EST (1747 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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