DATE=  11/7/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222344

TITLE=CLINTON / IRAQ (L)

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON AND OTHER U-S OFFICIALS ARE EXPRESSING 

GROWING FRUSTRATION OVER IRAQ, AFTER THREE U-N ENVOYS LEFT 

BAGHDAD WITHOUT PERSUADING THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT TO DROP ITS 

THREAT TO EXPEL U-S MEMBERS OF A U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM.  

V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.



TEXT:  MR. CLINTON SAYS HE DOES NOT HAVE MUCH HOPE THAT IRAQI 

LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL GIVE ANY GROUND IN THE STANDOFF OVER 

U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.



                     // CLINTON ACTUALITY //



         NO, I DON'T, BUT WE HAVE TO BE RESOLUTE AND FIRM.



                          // END ACT //



AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE U-N 

ENVOYS WHO LEFT BAGHDAD FOR NEW YORK FRIDAY DID NOT ACHIEVE WHAT 

THE UNITED STATES HAD HOPED.



                      // RUBIN ACTUALITY //



         THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE CONVINCED SADDAM HUSSEIN TO 

         STOP HIS FLOUTING OF THE UNITED NATIONS, TO REVERSE HIS 

         DECISION ON PROHIBITING THE WORK OF U-N INSPECTORS 

         WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS, AND TO START GETTING IN 

         COMPLIANCE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS.  THIS IS A MOST 

         DISTURBING DEVELOPMENT.



                          // END ACT //



AT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, A SENIOR OFFICIAL WHO DID NOT WANT TO 

BE IDENTIFIED HAD A BLUNT WARNING FOR BAGHDAD IN RESPONSE TO 

IRAQ'S RENEWED THREAT TO SHOOT DOWN U-S SPY PLANES OVER ITS 

TERRITORY.  THE OFFICIAL SAID AN ATTACK ON A U-2 SPY PLANE WOULD 

BE VIEWED AS AN ACT OF WAR, AND THAT A MILITARY RESPONSE WOULD BE

CONSIDERED. 



A U-2 FLIGHT SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY WAS POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT 

WEEK, AFTER THE U-N ENVOYS LEFT IRAQ.



PRESIDENT CLINTON WOULD NOT RULE OUT ANY OPTION IN DEALING WITH 

IRAQ,  BUT SAID THERE WOULD BE NO ACTION BEFORE U-N ENVOYS REPORT

TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL ON MONDAY.



                     // CLINTON ACTUALITY //



         I THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE U-N DIPLOMATS COME 

         BACK.  WE HAVE TO COUNSEL WITH OUR ALLIES, WE HAVE TO 

         GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO BE HEARD AND SEE WHAT WE ARE GOING

         TO DO.  BUT I HAVE SEEN NO INDICATION THAT ANY OF OUR 

         ALLIES ARE WEAKENING ON THIS.  EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE 

         UNITED IN THEIR DETERMINATION TO RESTORE THE INSPECTIONS

         ON TERMS THE UNITED NATIONS DECIDES, NOT ON SADDAM 

         HUSSEIN'S TERMS.



                          // END ACT //



MR. CLINTON IS TO BE KEPT UPDATED ON DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ FROM 

HIS NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.  (SIGNED)



NEB/DAT/RRM











07-Nov-97 3:36 PM EST (2036 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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