DATE=11/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241474
TITLE=KUWAIT / U-S / IRAQ (S & L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  ONE OF KUWAIT'S TOP MILITARY COMMANDERS HAS VOICED 
SUPPORT FOR A U-S ATTACK ON IRAQ IN THE FACE OF BAGHDAD'S 
CONTINUED REFUSAL TO COOPERATE WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS.  
GENERAL FAHAD AL-AMIR, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF OF KUWAIT'S ARMED 
FORCES, MADE THE COMMENT IN WASHINGTON TUESDAY, AND WE HAVE A 
REPORT FROM V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS.

TEXT:   GENERAL AMIR CALLED IRAQ'S LATEST DEFIANCE OF THE U-N 
SECURITY COUNCIL A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.  SADDAM HUSSEIN IS REFUSING
TO DEAL WITH THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS, HE SAID, SO THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST REACT.   AND THE ONLY RESPONSE THE 
IRAQI LEADER UNDERSTANDS, HE ADDED, IS MILITARY ACTION.

                        ///AL-AMIR ACT///

         THE TARGET SHOULD BE SADDAM HUSSEIN AND HIS MILITARY 
         MACHINE.

                          ///END ACT///

SINCE THE LATEST CONFRONTATION WITH IRAQ ERUPTED, THERE HAS BEEN 
VIRTUALLY NO PUBLIC SUPPORT IN THE ARAB WORLD FOR MILITARY ACTION
AGAINST BAGHDAD.

BUT GENERAL AMIR LEFT NO DOUBT THAT MOST OF THE OIL RICH ARAB 
STATES OF THE GULF WOULD SUPPORT A WESTERN ATTACK, AS LONG AS IT 
WAS INTENDED TO SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGE IRAQ'S WAR MACHINE.

                    /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///

                        ///AL-AMIR ACT///

         IF THE STRIKE IS GOING TO BE TO DAMAGE SADDAM HUSSEIN 
         AND HIS ARSENAL, EVERYBODY WILL BE FOR THAT.  IF THE 
         STRIKE IS JUST A MATTER OF SHOWING FORCE, THEN I BELIEVE
         THERE ARE SOME OF THE G-C-C (GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL) 
         COUNTRIES ARE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.

                          ///END ACT///

THE KUWAITI OFFICIAL SAID HE BELIEVES A MAJOR WESTERN STRIKE 
AGAINST BAGHDAD COULD TRIGGER WHAT HE CALLED A NEW REVOLUTION IN 
SOUTHERN IRAQ, WHERE SHIITE MUSLIM REBELS HAVE BEEN WAGING A LOW 
INTENSITY GUERRILLA WAR AGAINST IRAQI TROOPS.

THE KUWAITI GENERAL SAID A SUSTAINED WESTERN MILITARY CAMPAIGN TO
WEAKEN IRAQ'S MILITARY CAPABILITY COULD HASTEN THE DOWNFALL OF 
SADDAM HUSSEIN.(SIGNED)


NEB/DBR/PT

  

10-Nov-98 4:02 PM EST (2102 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.