DATE=12/1/97

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

NUMBER=5-38255

TITLE=U-S AND IRAQ

BYLINE=ED WARNER

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  WHILE TENSIONS HAVE SUBSIDED SOMEWHAT OVER IRAQ, A CLEAR 

U-S COURSE OF ACTION TOWARD SADDAM HUSSEIN REMAINS HOTLY DEBATED.

V-O-A'S ED WARNER PROVIDES SOME VIEWS OF ANALYSTS ON DEALING WITH

THE IRAQI LEADER.  



TEXT:    A HEADLINE IN THE SUNDAY NEW YORK TIMES NEWSPAPER 

PROCLAIMED "AMERICANS DECIDE WAR MAY  NOT  BE QUITE SO SCARY."  

THE COMMENTARY NOTED A (NEWSWEEK) SURVEY TAKEN IN MID-NOVEMBER 

THAT SHOWED FIFTY-THREE PERCENT OF AMERICANS FAVOR MILITARY 

ACTION AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN IF HE DOES  NOT  GIVE WAY ON ARMS 

INSPECTIONS.



THE NEWSPAPER SPECULATED THAT AMERICANS HAVE FINALLY RECOVERED 

FROM WHAT IS KNOWN AS "VIETNAM SYNDROME" -- DISMAY OVER A FAILED 

WAR -- AND ARE HEARTENED BY THE EASY VICTORY IN THE 1991 PERSIAN 

GULF WAR.  



THE TIMES QUOTED A FORMER SENIOR ADVISER TO THE CLINTON 

ADMINISTRATION AS SAYING: "IF WE CAN KILL SADDAM, WE SHOULD."  A 

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADER MADE THE SAME EMPHATIC POINT.



BUT JACK MATLOCK, FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA, CAUTIONED 

AGAINST U-S OVER-INVOLVEMENT ON JOHN MCLAUGHLIN'S NBC-TV PROGRAM,

"ONE-ON-ONE:"



                              // MATLOCK ACT //



         IT DOES SEEM TO ME THAT, WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR, 

         THERE IS  NO  REASON FOR US TO GET OUT IN THE FRONT OF 

         ALL OF THESE REGIONAL ISSUES.  IT SEEMS TO ME WE SHOULD 

         TELL THE COUNTRIES IN THE AREA, AND THOSE IN EUROPE THAT

         ARE CLOSE TO IT, THAT IT IS THEIR PROBLEM FIRST OF ALL, 

         AND WE ARE WILLING TO COOPERATE.  BUT THEY SHOULD  NOT  

         EXPECT US TO COME IN AND TAKE THE BRUNT.



                                 // END ACT // 



AMBASSADOR MATLOCK SAID THE UNITED STATES SHOULD REFRAIN FROM 

UNILATERAL ACTION UNTIL A CONSENSUS HAS BEEN FORMED AMONG THE 

REGIONAL POWERS MOST DIRECTLY INVOLVED.  



WILLIAM RUGH, A FORMER U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

SPEAKING ON THE SAME PROGRAM, SAID THAT HAS  NOT  YET OCCURRED IN

THE MIDDLE EAST:  



                                // RUGH ACT //



         THERE IS A GROWING DISPARITY AND A GROWING GAP BETWEEN 

         OUR PERCEPTION OF IRAQ AND THE ARAB PERCEPTION OF IRAQ. 

         SHEIK ZAID, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, 

         GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE IN WHICH HE SAID, 'THERE IS  NOT

         A PROBLEM OF SECURITY IN THE GULF.  THE PROBLEM IS WITH 

         THE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE."  THAT IS A VERY 

         DIFFERENT PERCEPTION AND A VERY DIFFERENT TAKE ON WHAT 

         IS GOING ON. 



                                 // END ACT //



AMBASSADOR RUGH ADDED MILITARY OR COVERT ACTION AGAINST SADDAM 

HUSSEIN IS  NOT  LIKELY TO SUCCEED.  HE PROPOSED A DIPLOMATIC 

TARGETING OF THE IRAQIS CLOSE TO THE LEADER:



                                // RUGH ACT //



         THE MAIN STRENGTH THAT SADDAM HAS IS THE PEOPLE AROUND 

         HIM.  CURRENTLY, THEY SEE THEIR FATE TIED TO SADDAM.  IF

         HE GOES, THEY WILL GO.  I THINK WE OUGHT TO FIND A WAY 

         TO BREAK THE LINK.  WE OUGHT TO DECLARE HIM A WAR 

         CRIMINAL, AND WE OUGHT TO CONSIDER -- AND THIS IS A 

         RADICAL IDEA --GIVING HIS ASSOCIATES AN AMNESTY IF HE 

         FALLS.



                                 // END ACT //



AMBASSADOR MATLOCK SAID THIS IS WORTH TRYING SINCE NOTHING ELSE 

HAS WORKED.  BOTH DIPLOMATS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF REVIVING 

THE PEACE PROCESS TO DEFUSE REGIONAL TENSIONS.   (SIGNED)



NEB/EW/MMK



01-Dec-97 12:11 PM EST (1711 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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