DATE=9/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238350
TITLE=ALBRIGHT/IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS REITERATED 
THAT MILITARY FORCE COULD STILL BE USED AGAINST IRAQ IF IT AGAIN 
TRIES TO BUILD MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONS OR THREATEN ITS 
NEIGHBORS.  HER REMARKS WERE IN A SPEECH TO A MILITARY VETERANS 
ORGANIZATION--THE AMERICAN LEGION-- IN NEW ORLEANS.  V-O-A'S GIL 
BUTLER HAS A REPORT.

TEXT: SECRETARY ALBRIGHT SHARPLY DISAGREED WITH CRITICS OF 
AMERICAN POLICY ON IRAQ AND THE INTERNATIONAL INSPECTION OF ITS 
WEAPONS FACILITIES.  SHE SAID THE CRITICS ARE WRONG WHEN THEY 
BLAME AMERICA FOR THE WORLD'S FAILURE TO UNCOVER THE FULL TRUTH 
ABOUT IRAQ'S CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAMS.  
MS. ALBRIGHT SAID AMERICA HAS BEEN BY FAR THE STRONGEST 
INTERNATIONAL BACKER OF THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS.

LAST WEEK, FORMER WEAPONS INSPECTOR SCOTT RITTER SAID AMERICAN 
OFFICIALS HAD UNDERMINED SEARCHES THROUGH INTERFERENCE AND 
MANIPULATION.  HE RESIGNED FROM THE PROGRAM SAYING THE UNITED 
STATES AND THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAD NOT SUPPORTED A TOUGH 
INSPECTION REGIME.

IN HER NEW ORLEANS SPEECH, SECRETARY ALBRIGHT REPEATED THAT 
MILITARY FORCE IS STILL AN OPTION.

                      /// ALBRIGHT ACT ///

         FOR ALL ITS BLUSTER, IRAQ REMAINS WITHIN THE STRATEGIC 
         BOX SADDAM HUSSEIN'S FOLLY CREATED FOR IT SEVEN YEARS 
         AGO.  AS WE LOOK AHEAD, WE WILL DECIDE HOW AND WHEN TO 
         RESPOND TO IRAQ'S ACTIONS BASED ON THE THREAT THEY POSE 
         TO IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS, TO REGIONAL SECURITY AND TO U-S 
         VITAL INTERESTS.  OUR ASSESSMENT WILL INCLUDE SADDAM'S 
         CAPACITY TO RECONSTITUTE, USE OR THREATEN TO USE WEAPONS
         OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IF IRAQ 
         TRIES TO BREAK OUT OF ITS STRATEGIC BOX, OUR RESPONSE 
         WILL BE SWIFT AND STRONG.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE SECRETARY OF STATE ALSO ASKED THE AMERICAN LEGION VETERANS TO
SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY FUNDS TO IMPROVE
SECURITY AT AMERICAN MISSIONS FOLLOWING THE TERRORIST BOMBINGS AT
U-S EMBASSIES IN EAST AFRICA.(SIGNED)

NEB/MGB/TMD/WFR

09-Sep-98 4:39 PM EDT (2039 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.