DATE=  11/9/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222392

TITLE=CLINTON/IRAQ WRAP (L)

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON 

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



          // THIS PIECE CAN SUB CLINTON/IRAQ LONG CR //



INTRO:  PRESIDENT CLINTON WARNS IRAQ WILL BE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE

IF IT CONTINUES TO OBSTRUCT THE WORK OF UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS 

INSPECTORS AND CARRIES OUT A THREAT TO SHOOT DOWN AMERICAN U-2 

SPY PLANES USED BY INSPECTION TEAMS.  ANOTHER U-2 FLIGHT IS 

SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY.   MORE ON WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN ESCALATING 

SITUATION FROM CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE. 



TEXT:  THE SIGNALS COMING FROM BOTH BAGHDAD AND WASHINGTON 

INDICATE THE UNITED STATES AND IRAQ ARE ONCE AGAIN HEADING TOWARD

MILITARY CONFRONTATION. 



IRAQ CLAIMS AMERICAN-PILOTED U-2 SURVEILLANCE FLIGHTS, AS WELL AS

AMERICAN WEAPONS INSPECTORS WORKING FOR THE UNITED NATIONS, ARE 

ENGAGED IN ESPIONAGE. LAST WEEK, IRAQ ANNOUNCED THAT ALL THE 

AMERICANS HAD TO LEAVE.  



SPEAKING ON N-B-C'S MEET THE PRESS SUNDAY, PRESIDENT CLINTON LEFT

LITTLE DOUBT IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN CAN EXPECT MILITARY 

RETALIATION IF HE CARRIES OUT A THREAT TO SHOOT DOWN THE U-2'S, 

WHICH FLY UNDER A U-N MANDATE.



                        // CLINTON ACT //



         IF YOU SHOOT AT THEM, YOU WILL BE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE. 

         WE WILL NOT TOLERATE HIS (SADDAM HUSSEIN) EFFORTS TO 

         MURDER OUR PILOTS ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED 

         NATIONS, ACTING UNDER UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL 

         RESOLUTIONS. 



                          // END ACT //



ON THE EVE OF WHAT COULD BE A DECISIVE MEETING AMONG U-N SECURITY

COUNCIL MEMBERS, TOP CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WERE 

WORKING SUNDAY TO MAKE SURE BAGHDAD GOT THE MESSAGE THAT THE GULF

WAR ALLIES WILL NOT BE DETERRED BY PRESIDENT SADDAM'S THREATS.  

BILL RICHARDSON, THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE U-N, SPOKE BRIEFLY 

WITH REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON.   



                      // RICHARDSON ACT //



         SADDAM SHOULD NOT MAKE A MISTAKE.  HE'S HEADED TOWARDS 

         MAKING A BIG MISTAKE.  



                         // END ACT // 



IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ IS EXPECTED TO ARGUE 

BAGHDAD'S CASE BEFORE SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN NEW YORK 

MONDAY.   AFTER SIX YEARS OF SANCTIONS, IRAQ MAINTAINS THE UNITED

STATES IS DELIBERATELY DRAGGING OUT THE WEAPONS INSPECTION 

PROCESS SO THAT AMERICAN INSPECTORS CAN CONDUCT ESPIONAGE.    



PRESIDENT CLINTON SUNDAY BRUSHED ASIDE CONCERNS THAT SIX YEARS 

AFTER THE WAR, THE U-N COALITION PUT TOGETHER TO DRIVE IRAQI 

TROOPS OUT OF KUWAIT MAY NOW BE CRACKING -- AND THAT IRAQ'S GOAL 

MAY BE TO FURTHER DIVIDE THE GULF WAR ALLIES.  



ON THE CONTRARY, THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE EXPECTS THE SECURITY 

COUNCIL TO TAKE WHAT HE CALLED VERY STRONG AND UNAMBIGUOUS ACTION

IF BAGHDAD CONTINUES ON ITS PRESENT COURSE OF ACTION. 



                    // SECOND CLINTON ACT // 



         THE RUSSIANS AND THE FRENCH AND THE ARAB STATES HAVE A 

         HUGE STAKE IN NOT ALLOWING HIM (SADDAM HUSSEIN) TO 

         DEVELOP AND DEPLOY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  WHAT IF

         HE HAS A MISSILE WITH THE CAPACITY TO REACH EUROPE?



                         // END ACT //  



EVERY DAY FOR THE PAST WEEK, IRAQ HAS REFUSED TO PERMIT AMERICAN 

WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO DO THEIR JOBS AND IS DEMANDING THAT ALL OF 

THEM LEAVE.  THREE U-N DIPLOMATS WHO WERE DISPATCHED TO BAGHDAD 

LAST WEEK TO TRY TO WORK OUT A SOLUTION LEFT EMPTY-HANDED.   THE 

BALL IS NOW BACK IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S COURT, WHICH MUST 

DECIDE ON THE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION.    



LATE SUNDAY, IRAQ'S OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCY QUOTED PRESIDENT SADDAM 

AS SAYING IRAQ MUST NOW EITHER MAKE SACRIFICES OR FACE SLAVERY, A

DECISION THAT THE IRAQI LEADER CAST AS A CHOICE BETWEEN LIFE WITH

DIGNITY AND HONOR OR BEING CONFRONTED WITH WHAT HE CALLED ALL 

POSSIBILITIES.  (SIGNED) 



NEB/NJS/WFR



09-Nov-97 5:01 PM EST (2201 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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