DATE=6/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251008
TITLE=SENATE-IRAQ (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS REJECTING CALLS TO GIVE
IRAQI RESISTANCE GROUPS WEAPONS AND TRAINING ALONG WITH
NON-LETHAL HELP. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT WILL SOON START PARCELING OUT 97-
MILLION DOLLARS TO IRAQI DISSIDENTS. CONGRESS HAS AUTHORIZED
MILITARY AID, BUT THE FIRST BATCH OF ASSISTANCE WILL GO FOR
THINGS LIKE COMPUTERS AND FAX MACHINES, TO HELP THESE GROUPS SET
UP OFFICES AND SPREAD THEIR MESSAGE.
AT A SENATE HEARING (WEDNESDAY) DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
STATE BETH JONES DEFENDED THE POLICY. SHE SAYS THE OPPOSITION
NEEDS TO UNIFY AND BROADEN ITS POLITICAL BASE BEFORE TRYING TO
LAUNCH ANY ARMED INSURRECTION.
/// JONES ACT ///
THERE ARE A HOST OF ISSUES THAT MUST BE RESOLVED BEFORE
WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT PROVIDING ARMS TO THE IRAQI
OPPOSITION WOULD ADVANCE OUR OBJECTIVES OF PROMOTING A
CHANGE OF REGIME, AND NOT JUST LEAD TO MORE IRAQIS
BEING KILLED UNNECESSARILY.
/// END ACT ///
MS. JONES SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION IS SERIOUS ABOUT CHANGING THE
GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD, THOUGH SHE DECLINES TO PREDICT WHETHER
PRESIDENT SADDAM WILL BE OUT OF OFFICE BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON.
REPUBLICANS CHARGE THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOT MOVING QUICKLY OR
AGGRESSIVELY ENOUGH. THE LEADER OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS
(I-N-C), AHMED CHALABI, IS CALLING FOR BOLD ACTION, INCLUDING
WEAPONS AND TRAINING.
/// CHALABI ACT ///
IRAQIS ARE DYING NOW. IT IS NOT USEFUL TO SAY THAT ANY
FURTHER AGGRESSIVE MOVES AGAINST SADDAM WOULD GET IRAQIS
KILLED, BECAUSE SADDAM IS KILLING IRAQIS NOW.
/// END ACT ///
THE I-N-C IS PLANNING A MAJOR OPPOSITION CONFERENCE NEXT MONTH.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DS/ENE/GM
23-Jun-99 2:21 PM EDT (1821 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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