Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=3/19/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ WRAP (L O)

NUMBER=2-314294

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Bush has marked the first anniversary of the start of the Iraq war with a vow not to fail the Iraqi people, while saying lingering disagreements among U-S allies over the wisdom of going to war are now in the past. But as VOA correspondent Nick Simeone reports, one year after the U-S led invasion, members of the Bush administration and others are warning of more violent attacks in Iraq in the days ahead.

TEXT: It was one year ago Friday that President Bush gave the order to begin the war that toppled Saddam Hussein, basing his decision on the Iraqi leader's refusal to accept U-N resolutions and give up all of his alleged weapons of mass destruction.

/// BUSH ACT ///

One year ago, military forces of a strong coalition entered Iraq to enforce United Nations demands to defend our security and to liberate that country from the rule of a tyrant. For Iraq, it was a day of deliverance. For the nations of our coalition, it was the moment when years of demands and pledges turned to decisive action.

/// END ACT ///

In a televised address Friday before envoys from more than 80 nations -- a speech that was broadcast inside Iraq as well -- the president noted the war has led to disagreements among allies but called those differences something of the past.

/// 2nd BUSH ACT ///

We will not fail the Iraqi people who have placed their trust in us. Whatever it takes, we will fight and work to assure the success of freedom in Iraq.

/// END ACT ///

Reaction from Iraqis was mixed,

/// IRAQI ACT IN ARABIC ///

with some, like this one, saying life in the country has only gotten worse.

/// FADE ACT ///

But Iraqi Governing Council Spokesman Hamid al-Kifaey takes a different view.

/// AL-KIFAEY ACT ///

I agree with what most of what the president has just said. I think we have got to fight terrorism together because it is an international problem and it will not be solved unless there is an international effort.

/// END ACT ///

The next scheduled milestone in Iraq will come when U-S Administrator Paul Bremer hands over power to a sovereign Iraqi government on June 30th. But he along with Secretary of State Colin Powell -- who made a surprise visit to Baghdad Friday -- are both warning of difficult days ahead.

After listening to the President, Democrat Joe Biden, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, told N-B-C he still had many unanswered questions.

/// BIDEN ACT ///

I was hoping he'd explain what I call the June 30th question. On June 30th, Mr. Bremer is going to get on a plane as he said, wheels up, and head out of Iraq. Who is going to be in charge then?

/// END ACT ///

U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan says he will soon dispatch a team to the country to help Iraqis organize a political transition. But a year on, Baghdad Friday night still sounded like it did a year earlier.

/// ACT OF SIRENS SOUNDING AND FADE ///

with sirens sounding after several rockets were fired at U-S military headquarters in Baghdad, known as the green zone. U-S Colonel Serena Wallace described the attacks.

/// WALLACE ACT ///

There were three rockets that made an impact on the green zone. There were no causalities and no significant damage.

/// END ACT ///

But two more American Marines died Friday from injuries suffered in an earlier attack. Over the past year, at least 570 American troops have lost their lives and the war has become a top issue of debate in the U-S presidential election. (SIGNED)

NEB/NJS/KL/PT