DATE=6/9/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PICKERING PROTESTED (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263332
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A top U-S diplomat found himself before a
hostile audience of Arab-Americans in Washington
Friday as he tried to defend U-S policy toward Iraq.
Correspondent Nick Simeone has the story.
TEXT: Under Secretary of State Thomas Pickering was
invited to address the American-Arab Anti-
Discrimination Committee. But he quickly found U-S
views toward isolating Iraq were no longer popular
with a group that, nine years ago, had largely
supported the war to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.
Ambassador Pickering was in the middle of explaining
the need for maintaining United Nations sanctions on
Iraq -- and blaming Saddam Hussein for the suffering
of his own people -- when he was shouted down by many
in his audience.
/// PICKERING ACT AND CROWD SHOUTING ///
Saddam refuses to declare fully and to destroy
his weapons of mass destruction. He has not
returned stolen property, accounted for missing
prisoners or stopped repressing his own people.
That is why it is critical for sanctions to
remain in place.
/// BOOS FROM CROWD ///
CROWD NOISE: Shame, shame on you. How dare you,
want to kill the kids of Iraq. What kind of
human being are you? Israel is bombing
Southern Lebanon, not Iraq. Iraq is no threat
to the Arab world, or to nobody.
/// FADE TO TEXT ///
Some shook their fists at Ambassador Pickering.
Others urged the audience to walk out in protest.
/// ACT OF AUDIENCE MEMBER ///
What right do your planes, your government and
the British government have to bomb Iraq on a
daily basis? You're not even authorized by
United Nations sanctions for American planes to
bomb Iraq. (APPLAUSE)
/// END ACT ///
Whatever warmth there was left the room, and the third
most senior diplomat in the United States was left
standing on stage as members of the nation's largest
Arab-American group denounced what they called a pro-
Israel Middle East policy at the expense of other
peoples' suffering.
Despite the mood here, this confrontation comes at a
time when U-S officials are sounding optimistic about
the chances of reaching a comprehensive peace
agreement between Israel and the Palestinians in the
coming months. Peace talks between the two sides are
set to resume in Washington next week. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/JP
09-Jun-2000 15:40 PM EDT (09-Jun-2000 1940 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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