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16 November 1998

• White House Briefing November 16, 1998
  MR. LOCKHART: ... in this capitulation he has now expressly committed to ... affirmatively working with UNSCOM. ... the burden in that relationship is squarely on the shoulders of Saddam Hussein in helping them get the information they need. And if he does not meet that burden and they are not getting the kind of cooperation that Mr. Butler and UNSCOM deserves, then perhaps others steps will have to be taken.
  Q Joe, how is the United States going to judge compliance? If a single team is turned away from a single factory, is that enough? Do we have essentially a zero tolerance policy now?
  MR. LOCKHART: I think we will leave it to the auspices of Mr. Butler and UNSCOM.
  Q U.S. officials now have said that the next time Saddam does not comply with all that's required of him, there would be a military strike without warning.... Does that mean that aid workers there, the members of the U.N. inspection teams itself would be there and they would not have any opportunity to leave the country?
  MR. LOCKHART: I don't think it would be useful for me to speculate down the road.
  Q There is a report in The Washington Post today that there was an estimate that 10,000 civilians would be killed in this initial attack.
  MR. LOCKHART: ... obviously the President has to take seriously ... the idea when you embark on an operation like this, there is a risk both to U.S. servicemen and women, a risk of collateral damage to civilians.
  
• The US and Iraq Iraq News MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1998 -- Events of the past 48 hours show how Saddam can turn on a dime. He has strategic vision and tactical flexibility. The same events also suggest that enforcement of a no-drive zone in Iraq, to create territory in which the democratic opposition could operate, would not be as difficult as some critics maintain. Even Saddam now seems to understand what high-tech US weapons can do.
• REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT November 16, 1998 -- Governments all over the world today stand united in sharing the conviction that full compliance, and nothing short of full compliance, is needed from Iraq. The world is watching Saddam Hussein to see if he follows the words he uttered with deeds. Our forces remain strong and ready if he does not.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, NOVEMBER 16, 1998 -- IRAQ Secretary Albright anticipated need to return from her trip quickly, given the situation in Iraq. Secretary talked with President Clinton twice about Iraq from her hotel in Kuala Lumpur. US to engage more deeply with Iraqi opposition groups, consult with Congress. First, most important step is to form an effective viable political opposition. President Clinton spelled out elements of containment, plus added goal of replacing Saddam. Congressionally appropriated funds are for military assistance. UN's Kofi Annan agrees that UNSCOM inspectors should have complete cooperation. UNSCOM has supervised destruction of large amounts of weapons, munitions. Baghdad has yet to account for much chemical, biological weapons material. Iraq must clarify matters: It bears the burden of proof. If Iraq were to decide to comply fully, other issues could be resolved. Unanimity favoring US position was not an accident; a range of views on Iraq exists. US is ready, willing, able to act if President Clinton so decides. Secretary and all President's national security advisers support his decision. US nearly acted, and only by last-ditch capitulation did Saddam Hussein avoid consequences.
• TRANSCRIPT: COHEN SAYS IRAQ LEADER "HAS BEEN COMPLETELY ISOLATED" 16 November 1998 -- The combination of a lack of support for the Iraqi leader's policies and a strong U.S. military that was, for all practical purposes, "on its way" to Baghdad, had the effect of focusing Saddam Hussein's mind, the secretary said, leading him to accede and to grant UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) inspectors unfettered access to suspected Iraqi weapons sites.
• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL 16 November 1998 -- The Security Council had met Saturday evening and a number of members had sought clarification on the wording of the letter by Mr. Aziz. Those clarifications had been provided in writing by Ambassador Hamdoon. The Council had taken no action when it had adjourned late Saturday night.
• INDYK PRESS BRIEFING ON CRISIS WITH IRAQ By Peter Sawchyn USIA 16 November 1998 -- Martin Indyk, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, says U.N. weapons inspectors will have an "early opportunity" to test Iraq's latest pledge to resume full cooperation with the U.N. Special Commission that oversees arms inspection in Iraq.
• Secretary Cohen News Briefing Monday, November 16, 1998 -- Q: Did you miss an opportunity that may not come again in order to launch a strike at a time when world opinion was behind the United States? A: We had an opportunity to see the combination of diplomacy backed up by a strong military capability. That's what allowed us to succeed diplomatically.
• BACK FROM THE BRINK: SADDAM AGREES TO UN WEAPONS INSPECTIONS USIS Foreign Media Reaction Report -- November 16, 1998 -- The suspension of the military attack against Iraq, while welcomed in many corners, was seen by most observers as no more than a "truce" in the long-standing confrontation between the United States and Iraq. Many columnists saw a reprieve for Saddam Hussein, but no certainty that he will not take matters back to the brink again.
• UN WEAPONS INSPECTORS HEAD BACK TO WORK IN IRAQ By Judy Aita USIA 16 November 1998 -- As the Security Council warned Baghdad that it must honor its agreement to allow the United Nations to finish the work outlined by the Gulf War cease-fire agreement, UN weapons inspectors prepared to return to Iraq to test Saddam Hussein's latest pledge to cooperate with the international community.
• HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NOON BRIEFING SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL 16 November 1998 - The Executive Director of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) Richard Butler said he would send his weapons inspectors back to Iraq on Tuesday. The head of the UN Iraq Program, Benon Sevan, announced the return to Iraq of UN humanitarian workers on Monday.
• IAEA INSPECTORS RETURNING TO IRAQ 16 November 1998 Press Release IAEA/1329 IK/259 -- The IAEA personnel who were temporarily relocated to Bahrain on 11 November for safety concerns, are scheduled to return to Baghdad on Tuesday, 17 November. This group will immediately commence an intensive programme of facility inspections.
• RUSSIA / IRAQ Voice of America 16 November 1998 -- RUSSIA HAS EVACUATED NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL FROM BAGHDAD AND WARNED THAT THE IRAQ CRISIS IS FAR FROM OVER.
• Iraq retreats, but for how long? Scott Peterson and Peter Grier Christian Science Monitor Monday, November 16, 1998 -- The stated US aim is to "degrade" Iraq's ability to threaten its neighbors. But a broader aim this time, posits one European diplomat in Baghdad, may be to "break the back of the regime."
• CLINTON / IRAQ Voice of America 16 November 1998 -- IF THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT BAGHDAD IS NOT ABIDING BY ITS OBLIGATIONS, WASHINGTON IS POISED TO ACT MILITARILY TO FORCE IT TO COMPLY.
• Strikes Halted, Iraq Backs Down By Linda D. Kozaryn American Forces Press Service 16 November 1998 -- Pentagon officials said service members who deployed in response to the latest crisis will remain where they are. Units that have not deployed will stay in the United States but will be on a high state of alert.
• MONDAY'S EDITORIALS Voice of America 16 November 1998 -- THE ABORTED U-S MILITARY CONFRONTATION WITH IRAQ OVER THE ISSUE OF CONTINUED U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION IS THE MAJOR TOPIC IN MANY EDITORIAL COLUMNS THIS MONDAY.
• BRITAIN / IRAQ Voice of America 16 November 1998 -- PRIME MINISTER BLAIR SAYS THE AIR ATTACK ON THE IRAQIS WAS TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE MIDDAY SATURDAY, LONDON TIME, BUT WAS CANCELLED ONLY HOURS BEFOREHAND.
• IRAQ CRISIS Voice of America 16 November 1998 -- AMMAN'S ENGLISH-LANGUAGE DAILY, "THE JORDAN TIMES", CONCLUDES THAT THE CRISIS IS NOT YET OVER. MANY IN THE REGION PREDICT THE NEXT CONFRONTATION WILL COME SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
• SADDAM HUSSEIN TAKES U-S TO THE BRINK ONCE MORE Voice of America 16 November 1998 -- U-S OPINION ROUNDUP - THE NATION'S PRESS IS FIRING A BARRAGE OF COMMENTS REGARDING THIS LATEST EXERCISE IN BRINKMANSHIP.
• IRAQ / KUWAIT REACT Voice of America 16 November 1998 -- MANY KUWAITIS ARE EXPRESSING FRUSTRATION AND SAY THE REPEATED CONFRONTATIONS WILL NOT GO AWAY UNTIL THE REAL CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED.

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