DATE=11/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241718
TITLE=PENTAGON/IRAQ-SUNDAY UPDATE (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN CONFIRMS THAT U-S 
FORCES WERE ABOUT TO ATTACK IRAQ SATURDAY, WHEN PRESIDENT CLINTON
CANCELLED THE ORDER AFTER BAGHDAD AGREED TO LET U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTORS RESUME THEIR WORK.  BUT A FORMER WEAPONS INSPECTOR 
SAYS IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL NEVER GIVE UP HIS 
WEAPONS.  V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON 
ORDERED AMERICAN FORCES TO STRIKE, AND THEN CALLED THEM OFF WHEN 
IRAQ BACKED DOWN ON THE WEAPONS INSPECTION ISSUE.  MR. COHEN SAYS
U-S FORCES WERE 'VERY CLOSE' TO HITTING IRAQI TARGETS.  HE SAID 
IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN GOT A STRONG MESSAGE FROM THE 
PRESENCE OF SUCH A LARGE U-S MILITARY FORCE. 

                        /// COHEN ACT ///

         HE SAW NUMBER ONE THAT WE WERE SERIOUS.  THIS WAS NOT AN
         EMPTY THREAT.  AND NUMBER TWO WE WERE SUBSTANTIAL IN 
         NUMBERS AND CAPABILITIY.  AS A RESULT OF THAT 
         DEMONSTRATION OF FORCE AND ALSO THE DIPLOMATIC 
         INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN, ALL THE SUPPORT WE HAD
         THROUGHOUT THE GULF, AND THE SECURITY COUNCIL, THEY 
         FINALLY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION IT WAS A WISE AND PRUDENT
         THING FOR THEM TO CAPITULATE.

                          /// END ACT 

THE TENSIONS BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND BAGHDAD EASED SLIGHTLY 
SATURDAY AFTER IRAQ PROMISED TO ALLOW U-N INSPECTORS TO SEARCH 
ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY FOR BANNED WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  
BAGHDAD SPARKED THE CRISIS LAST MONTH BY BLOCKING THE WORK OF U-N
WEAPONS INSPECTORS.  IRAQ HAD PROMISED TO GIVE UP THESE WEAPONS 
AND MISSILES IN THE AGREEMENT THAT ENDED THE 1991 GULF WAR.   

BUT FORMER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR SCOTT RITTER, WHO RESIGNED FROM 
HIS POST IN AUGUST, SAYS IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL NOT 
GIVE UP HIS PROGRAMS TO PRODUCE NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL AND GERM 
WEAPONS.

                       /// RITTER ACT ///

         THESE WEAPONS PROGRAMS ARE INEXTRICABLY ATTACHED TO 
         SADDAM HUSSEIN.  HE HAS MADE THEM PART OF THE FOUNDATION
         UPON WHICH HE BASES NOT ONLY HIS INTERNAL POWER BASE, 
         BUT ALSO HIS REGIONAL POWER BASE.  HE CAN'T AFFORD TO 
         GIVE UP THESE WEAPONS PROGRAMS AND EXPECT TO STAY IN 
         POWER MUCH LONGER.

                        /// END ACT ///  

MR. RITTER SPOKE ON THE N-B-C TELEVISON NETWORK SUNDAY.   
MEANWHILE, THE HEAD OF THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION EFFORTS, 
RICHARD BUTLER TOLD TELEVISION INTERVIEWERS (ON CNN) THAT 
INSPECTORS WILL RESUME THEIR WORK QUICKLY.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/WFR

15-Nov-98 8:41 PM EST (0141 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.