DATE=3/2/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42750
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ / ESPIONAGE
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS FACING MORE ALLEGATIONS
THAT THE UNITED STATES USED U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAMS IN IRAQ
AS A COVER FOR ITS OWN ESPIONAGE ACTIVITIES. THE UNITED NATIONS
HAS LONG DENIED THAT ITS WEAPONS TEAMS IN IRAQ -- KNOWN AS UNSCOM
-- WAS USED AS A COVER FOR ESPIONAGE. BUT EVIDENCE TO THE
CONTRARY, AS CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS, SEEMS TO BE
MOUNTING.
TEXT: IN JANUARY, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION ADMITTED U-S
INTELLIGENCE ASSETS AND OPERATIVES WERE ON LOAN TO UNSCOM. BUT
U-S OFFICIALS SAID THE GOAL WAS ONLY TO BETTER HELP U-N TEAMS
OVERCOME IRAQI CONCEALMENT AND LOCATE BAGHDAD'S SUSPECTED WEAPONS
OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
SINCE DECEMBER'S U-S AND BRITISH AIR RAIDS OVER BAGHDAD
WASHINGTON HAS EXPANDED THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT FOR AMERICAN
PILOTS PATROLLING IRAQ'S NO FLY ZONES SKIES AS WELL AS STEPPED UP
CALLS FOR A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IN BAGHDAD. COINCIDENTALLY OR
NOT, IT'S BEEN DURING THIS SAME PERIOD THAT REPORTS BEGAN
EMERGING THAT THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS IN FACT BEEN DOING
WHAT IRAQ HAS BEEN CONVINCED OF ALL ALONG : SPYING.
BAGHDAD HAS NOT FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO FIND GROUNDS TO BACK UP
THOSE CHARGES. SHORTLY AFTER DECEMBER'S AIR RAIDS, THE NEW YORK
TIMES REPORTED AMERICAN SPIES HAD BEEN WORKING UNDERCOVER ON
UNSCOM TEAMS -- PROVIDING THEM ON THE ONE HAND WITH WEAPONS
EXPERTISE WHILE ON THE OTHER HAND, GAINING A PROTECTED PRESENCE
WITHIN IRAQ TO CARRY OUT THEIR OWN SEPARATE INTELLIGENCE
GATHERING ACTIVITIES.
THAT REPORT PROMPTED CHIEF U-N ARMS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER TO
DENY UNSCOM HAD EVER ENGAGED IN ESPIONAGE OR EVER SERVED AS A
COVER FOR OTHERS TO DO SO.
/// BUTLER ACT ///
HAVE WE FACILITATED SPYING? ARE WE SPIES? ABSOLUTELY
NOT.
/// END ACT ///
BUT HIS DENIAL WAS SOON UNDERCUT WHEN A SENIOR WHITE HOUSE
OFFICIAL TOLD A REPORTER THAT, YES, SOME INFORMATION GATHERED BY
UNSCOM MAY HAVE BEEN USED BY THE UNITED STATES. BUT THIS WAS
ONLY INCIDENTAL, THIS OFFICIAL SAID. ANY NATION THAT WORKS WITH
UNSCOM WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO SUCH INTELLIGENCE AND IT WOULD BE
EXPECTED THAT U-S OFFICIALS WOULD EVALUATE IT FOR ITS OWN
PURPOSES.
BUT THAT EXPLANATION IS AGAIN BEING CHALLENGED -- THIS TIME BY A
REPORT IN THE WASHINGTON POST (TUESDAY 3/2). THE NEWSPAPER
QUOTES UNNAMED U-S OFFICIALS AS SAYING THAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS,
U-S INTELLIGENCE AGENTS -- WITHOUT UNSCOM'S PERMISSION -- WENT A
STEP FURTHER, PLANTING ESPIONAGE EQUIPMENT IN IRAQ TO EAVESDROP
ON IRAQI MILITARY ACTIVITIES.
PRESSED REPEATEDLY BY REPORTERS, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN DAVID
LEAVY STOPPED SHORT OF DENYING THE UNITED STATES HAD BEEN CAUGHT
SPYING.
// LEAVY ACT //
OUR EFFORTS IN IRAQ WERE CONCENTRATED ON SUPPORTING
UNSCOM AND OUR MISSION OF DISARMAMENT. THAT'S ALL I CAN
SAY ON THIS ONE, REALLY.
// END ACT //
BAGHDAD HAS LONG MAINTAINED THAT U-S AND BRITISH NATIONALS
WORKING AS U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS WERE SPIES. PRESIDENT SADDAM
HUSSEIN HAS USED THAT TO JUSTIFY HIS REFUSAL TO ALLOW UNSCOM
ACCESS TO SITES CONSIDERED SENSITIVE. ALL U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTIONS WERE BROUGHT TO AN END WITH LAST DECEMBER'S ALLIED
BOMBING OF BAGHDAD.
/// REST OPT ///
BUT CHARGES OF WHETHER THE UNITED STATES MISUSED ITS POSITION ON
UNSCOM -- AND MISLED THE UNITED NATIONS ABOUT ITS ACTIVITIES
THERE -- HAVE BEEN GIVEN MORE CREDENCE IN A FORTHCOMING BOOK BY
FORMER AMERICAN WEAPONS INSPECTOR SCOTT RITTER. IN A RELEASE
OBTAINED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE FORMER MARINE CLAIMS SEVERAL
UNDERCOVER C-I-A AGENTS WERE WORKING ON UNSCOM TEAMS AT THE TIME
OF A COUP ATTEMPT AGAINST PRESIDENT SADDAM THREE YEARS AGO AND
MAY HAVE HELPED BRING IT ABOUT.
THIS CHARGE IS ALSO BEING REBUTTED BY WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN DAVID
LEAVY, WHO TOLD REPORTERS NO INTELLIGENCE GATHERED ON BEHALF OF
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS WAS USED TO PLOT ANY ACTION AGAINST THE
IRAQI LEADER. SCOTT RITTER RESIGNED AS A U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR
LAST AUGUST, ACCUSING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OF UNDERMINING
THE WORK OF UNSCOM. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/JO
02-Mar-99 5:46 PM EST (2246 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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