DATE=3/22/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - IRAQ (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260482
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A senior U-S official has acknowledged that
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is likely to remain in
office longer than President Clinton. At the same
time, the administration is resisting calls to arm the
Iraqi opposition. V-O-A's David Swan reports.
TEXT: At a Senate hearing (Wednesday), Assistant
Secretary of State Edward Walker faced questions about
why the United States has not done more to topple
President Saddam. Mr. Walker defended the U-S record
of containing him. Under questioning, he told
senators not to look for a new leader in Baghdad soon.
/// Walker Act ///
The probabilities would lead in the direction
that he would still be in power by the end of
the (Clinton) administration. That doesn't mean
that we can not use the intervening time to
build up the capabilities of those who would
seek to remove him.
/// End Act ///
But for now at least, the build-up will not include
military aid to Iraqi dissidents. Citing the failed
anti-government campaigns of the past, Mr. Walker said
there must be a solid foundation for any attempt to
unseat President Saddam.
/// Walker Act ///
We admit that it'll take some time to put it
together. But it is not our objective or our
interest to see a slap-happy or a slapdash (EDS:
hasty and ill conceived) kind of program put
together that costs people's lives.
/// End Act ///
Critics say the administration is moving much too
slowly and is not using the authority or the money
approved by Congress. Republican Senator Sam
Brownback charged there is no serious effort to bring
about change in Iraq.
/// Brownback Act ///
And all along, the clock is ticking and the rest
of the world and others are starting to re-
engage Saddam. So that at the end of the day,
we're left with him still in power, still in
Baghdad.
/// End Act ///
(signed)
neb/ds/jp
22-Mar-2000 13:05 PM EDT (22-Mar-2000 1805 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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