Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=04/07/2003

TYPE=ON THE LINE SHORT #1

NUMBER=1-01305

TITLE=THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR

INTERNET=Yes

EDITOR=OFFICE OF POLICY 619-0038

CONTENT= INSERTS IN DALET AND AUDIO SERVICES

THEME: UP, HOLD UNDER AND FADE

Host: This is On the Line, and I'm ------------. The U-S-led coalition has been trying to minimize the danger and hardship to Iraqi civilians in the war to liberate Iraq. But forces loyal to the regime of Saddam Hussein have adopted tactics that deliberately put Iraqi civilians in harm's way. Saddam's Fedayeen, as the paramilitaries are called, have disguised themselves as civilians to ambush coalition soldiers. The Fedayeen have used Iraqi women and children as human shields. President George W. Bush said, "Every atrocity has confirmed the justice and urgency of our cause." He promised that Iraqi war criminals will be hunted relentlessly and judged severely.

David Rivkin is a Washington-based specialist in international law. He says that Iraqi fighters have systematically committed war crimes:

Rivkin: They are engaged in massive violations of a wide range of laws of war. They are doing it at all chains of command. They have commingled their forces with civilian assets like schools and mosques and hospitals. They are shooting civilians. There are accounts which indicate that they are seizing children to force their parents to fight. You name it. I cannot think of one tenet of the laws of war not violated.

Host: Zainab Al-Suwaij is executive director of the American Islamic Congress. She says that the crimes of the Iraqi forces are being committed primarily against the people of Iraq:

Al-Suwaij: The Fedayeen and the Republican Guard and some of the Baath party members are forcing people, giving them weapons and forcing them, especially male, to go and fight. And if they refuse, then they will kill the whole family or one of the family members. So they have to do that and most of the people there, they are waiting to be free of Saddam Hussein's regime and his brutal dictatorship all of these years.

Host: Al Santoli is a senior vice president of the American Foreign Policy Council. He says that the Saddam Hussein regime is committing crimes against civilians as part of its propaganda strategy:

Santoli: They're choosing to use civilians as virtual hostages. Saddam's tactic is to get as many civilians killed as possible and hope that international opinion would then support him.

Host: Coalition forces have made efforts to minimize civilian casualties. For On the Line, I'm ------------.