DATE=8/7//98
      TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
    NUMBER=6-10851
     TITLE=SADDAM SAYS NO
    BYLINE=NEAL LAVON
 TELEPHONE=619-0112
  DATELINE=WASHINGTON
    EDITOR=ASSIGNMENTS

CONTENT= 

INTRO:  IRAQ'S DECISION TO DEFY UNITED NATIONS ARMS INSPECTORS BY
SUSPENDING COOPERATION IS THE SUBJECT OF NUMEROUS EDITORIALS IN 
THE U-S PRESS.  WE GET A SAMPLING NOW FROM _________________ IN 
TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT:    U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS WERE BACK ON THE JOB FRIDAY 
[8/7/98] AFTER IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN ANNOUNCED HE WAS 
SUSPENDING COOPERATION WITH THE U-N UNTIL IT LIFTED ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS AGAINST BAGHDAD.  U-S-A TODAY SAYS THE WEST MUST MAKE 
SURE HE COMPLIES WITH U-N SANCTIONS AND ACCOUNTS FOR HIS WEAPONS 
OF MASS DESTRUCTION.    

VOICE:   SADDAM OBVIOUSLY THINKS HE'LL EVENTUALLY WORM OUT OF U-N
         DEMANDS THROUGH DECEPTION AND DELAY. THAT'S WHY IT'S 
         IMPORTANT -- ONCE AGAIN -- FOR THE UNITED STATES AND ITS
         U-N ALLIES TO LEAVE NO DOUBT THAT IRAQ EVENTUALLY MUST 
         LAY DOWN ITS MOST DEADLY WEAPONS.

TEXT:    THE NEW YORK POST POINTS OUT THAT SADDAM HAS PROFITED 
FROM HIS HISTORY OF DEFYING THE UNITED STATES AS WELL AS U-N 
DEMANDS.

VOICE:   SADDAM IS WILLING TO STAND UP TO AMERICA BECAUSE HE HAS 
         GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT SO OFTEN SINCE 1991. AND EACH TIME 
         HE HAS DONE SO HE HAS ERODED AEMRICAN CREDIBILITY IN A 
         REGION WHERE VITAL U-S INTERESTS INDISPUTABLY RESIDE.

TEXT:    DESPITE IRAQ'S SUSPENSION OF COOPERATION WITH THE U-N, 
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SAYS THAT SADDAM MAINTAINS SUPPORT ON THE
SECURITY COUNCIL. THE JOURNAL NOTES:

VOICE:      WHEN IRAQ ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS "FRUSTRATED AND FED 
            UP" WITH...[CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD] 
            BUTLER'S INSPECTIONS AND REFUSED TO LET THEM PROCEED,
            CHINA AND RUSSIA RUSHED TO OFFER EXPRESSIONS OF 
            SYMPATHY. "MAYBE IT'S BETTER TO CONTINUE THE 
            NEGOTIATIONS," A CHINESE DIPLOMAT IS QUOTED AS 
            SAYING. "WE'RE STRONGLY CONVINCED THAT IRAQ IS NOT 
            THE ONLY ONE TO BLAME FOR THIS SITUATION," SAYS YURI 
            FEDEROV, RUSSIA'S NO. 2 MAN AT THE U-N. ON THE SCALE 
            OF CREDIBILITY, THIS STATEMENT RANKS RIGHT UP THERE 
            WITH BORIS YELTSIN'S STRAIGHT-FACED COMMENT LAST 
            FEBRUARY AFTER MR. ANNAN'S RIDE TO THE RESCUE IN 
            BAGHDAD: "SADDAM GAVE US HIS WORD".

TEXT:    THE NEW YORK TIMES WARNS IRAQ THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON, 
DESPITE HIS DOMESTIC POLITICAL WOES, WILL NOT HESITATE TO RESPOND
TO BAGHDAD'S INTRANSIGENCE.

VOICE:      THOUGH BILL CLINTON IS PREPARING FOR HIS GRAND JURY 
            TESTIMONY LATER THIS MONTH, HE REMAINS FULLY ABLE TO 
            DELIVER A FORCEFUL RESPONSE TO MR. HUSSEIN ON A 
            MATTER WHERE THERE IS ALREADY STRONG BIPARTISAN 
            AGREEMENT. MR. CLINTON WOULD NO DOUBT RELISH THE 
            CHANCE TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION.  

TEXT:  WITH THAT COMMENT FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES, WE CONCLUDE 
THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM THE U-S PRESS. 

NEB/NL/KL

07-Aug-98 12:53 PM EDT (1653 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.