DATE=11/15/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-241714 TITLE=CLINTON / IRAQ (L) BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL KEEP THE PRESSURE ON IRAQ UNTIL IT MAKES GOOD ON ITS LATEST PLEDGE TO RESUME U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. BAGHDAD'S DECISION TO REVERSE COURSE AND ALLOW INSPECTORS BACK INTO THE COUNTRY NARROWLY AVERTED U-S MILITARY ACTION. CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. TEXT: IN AN APPEARANCE BEFORE REPORTERS (SUNDAY) AT THE WHITE HOUSE, MR. CLINTON SAID IRAQ HAS BACKED DOWN FROM ITS DEFIANCE OF THE WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. BUT HE SAID THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. HE SAID IRAQ MUST LIVE UP TO ITS OBLIGATIONS TO UNCONDITIONALLY RESUME COOPERATION WITH U-N ARMS INSPECTORS. // CLINTON ACTUALITY // UNTIL WE SEE COMPLETE COMPLIANCE, WE WILL REMAIN VIGILANT, WE WILL KEEP UP THE PRESSURE, WE WILL BE READY TO ACT. // END ACT // DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE UNITED STATES -- WITH ITS SUBSTANTIAL MILITARY BUILD-UP IN THE PERSIAN GULF -- IS PREPARED TO USE FORCE AGAINST IRAQ AT ANY TIME IF IT SHIRKS ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. HE CONFIRMED REPORTS MR. CLINTON HAD GIVEN AN ORDER TO STRIKE IRAQ JUST BEFORE BAGHDAD ISSUED ITS LATEST OVERTURE, AND THE ORDER WAS QUICKLY RESCINDED. THE PRESIDENT SAYS IT WAS U-S WILLINGNESS TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION, COUPLED WITH WORLD OPINION AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN, THAT CAUSED THE IRAQI LEADER TO REVERSE HIS OCTOBER 31ST DECISION TO BAR WEAPONS INSPECTORS FROM IRAQ. ALTHOUGH SOME U-S ALLIES WERE SAID TO BE CONCERNED THE UNITED STATES WAITED TOO LONG TO USE FORCE AGAINST BAGHDAD, MR. CLINTON DEFENDED HIS DECISION TO HOLD OUT ON SUCH ACTION. // CLINTON ACTUALITY // I BELIEVE WE HAVE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON: IF WE TAKE MILITARY ACTION, WE CAN SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADE THE CAPABILITY OF SADDAM HUSSEIN TO DEVELOP WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND TO DELIVER THEM. BUT THAT WOULD ALSO MARK THE END OF UNSCOM. SO WE WOULD DELAY IT, BUT THEN WE WOULD HAVE NO OVERSIGHT, NO INVOLVEMENT, NO INSIGHT INTO WHAT IS GOING WITHIN IRAQ. IF WE CAN KEEP UNSCOM IN THERE WORKING, AND GIVE HIM ONE MORE CHANCE TO BECOME HONORABLY RECONCILED BY OBSERVING U-N RESOLUTIONS, WE SEE THAT RESULTS CAN BE OBTAINED. // END ACT // WHILE VOWING TO CONTINUE TRYING TO CONTAIN THE THREAT IRAQ POSES TO THE REGION, THE PRESIDENT SAID THE UNITED STATES WOULD ALSO STEP UP EFFORTS TO BRING ABOUT A POST-SADDAM HUSSEIN ERA. // CLINTON ACTUALITY // OVER THE LONG TERM, THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THAT THREAT IS THROUGH A NEW GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD THAT IS COMMITTED TO REPRESENT AND RESPECT ITS PEOPLE, NOT REPRESS THEM, THAT IS COMMITTED TO PEACE IN THE REGION. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE DEEPENED OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FORCES OF CHANGE IN IRAQ, RECONCILING THE TWO LARGEST KURDISH OPPOSITION GROUPS, BEGINNING BROADCASTS OF RADIO FREE IRAQ THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WE WILL INTENSIFY THAT EFFORT. // END ACT // OFFICIALS SAID LATER THE PRESIDENT WAS NOT CALLING FOR THE OUTRIGHT OVERTHROW OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, BUT RATHER WAS FOCUSING ON WORKING TO BUILD A STRONG IRAQI OPPOSITION TO BRING ABOUT DEMOCRATIC CHANGE. NOW THAT THE STANDOFF WITH IRAQ APPEARS TO HAVE EASED, U-S OFFICIALS SAY MR. CLINTON WILL LIKELY GO AHEAD A SCHEDULED TRIP TO JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA LATER IN THE WEEK. HE IS EXPECTED TO LEAVE LATE TUESDAY. THE PRESIDENT CANCELLED THE FIRST STOP ON THAT TOUR -- A VISIT TO MALAYSIA FOR AN ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC SUMMIT. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT CUT SHORT HER VISIT THERE TO RETURN TO WASHINGTON TO MONITOR DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ. (SIGNED) NEB/DAT/RAE 15-Nov-98 1:49 PM EST (1849 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .