ACCESSION NUMBER:291976
FILE ID:TXT301
DATE:06/30/93
TITLE:CLINTON: "WE WILL PROTECT OUR PEOPLE" (06/30/93)
TEXT:*93063001.TXT
CLINTON: "WE WILL PROTECT OUR PEOPLE"
(VOA Editorial) (380)
(Following is an editorial, broadcast by the Voice of America June 30,
reflecting the views of the U.S. government.)
No country can have normal relations with a regime that uses terror,
aggression and even assassination as tools of foreign policy.
Unfortunately, this is the kind of regime now ruling Iraq. The regime of
Saddam Hussein has slaughtered its own people, invaded two neighbors,
sponsored international terrorism and engaged in chemical and environmental
warfare.
In April, the Kuwaiti government uncovered a plot to assassinate former
President George Bush by means of a powerful car bomb while he was visiting
Kuwait City. Working with Kuwaiti authorities, United States officials
carefully investigated the plot. They reported to President Bill Clinton
last week. As President Clinton said in a televised address on June 26,
the investigators determined that the plot "was directed and pursued by the
Iraqi Intelligence Service."
"It is clear," said President Clinton, "that this was no impulsive or random
act. It was an elaborate plan devised by the Iraqi government and directed
against the former president of the United States because of actions he
took as president. As such, the Iraqi attack against President Bush was an
attack against our country and against all Americans." Clinton stressed
that the United States could not let such an action against the United
States go unanswered.
In response to Iraq's aggression, President Clinton ordered a cruise missile
attack on the Iraqi Intelligence Service command and control facility in
Baghdad. Clinton explained that the U.S. intention "was to target Iraq's
capacity to support violence against the United States and other nations
and to deter Saddam Hussein from supporting such outlawed behavior in the
future. Therefore," he said, "we directed our action against the facility
associated with Iraq's support of terrorism while making every effort to
minimize the loss of innocent life."
President Clinton said there should be no mistake about the message the
United States intends to convey "to Saddam Hussein, to the rest of the
Iraqi leadership and to any nation, group or person who would harm our
leaders or our citizens. We will combat terrorism. We will deter
aggression. We will protect our people."
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