FAS | News | Iraq | 1998 | Nov |||| Index | Search |

23 November 1998

• Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen Briefing November 23, 1998 -- I indicated that there were at least two facets to cooperation on the part of the Iraqi government. On the one hand they had to allow free and unfettered access to the UNSCOM inspection teams. Secondly, they had an affirmative duty to produce documentation as to their past activities.
• U.S. SEEKS TO END IRAQ'S CONFRONTATION WITH THE WORLD By Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger, U.S. National Security Advisor (Op-Ed article published in Arabic Daily Al-Hayat Nov. 23) A week ago, Saddam Hussein was hoping to have it both ways, by defying the international community while demanding an end to international sanctions. But his neighbors and the world insisted that Iraq meet its obligations in full, and the United States and Great Britain made clear that we were ready to back that insistence with military force.
• State Department Briefing -- 23 November 1998 -- IRAQ -- UNSCOM has technical expertise needed to make judgments on documents. Iraq gave the UN Security Council a new letter today, responding to Amb. Butler's letters. UNSC imposition on Iraq's sovereignty result directly from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. Burden of proof remains on Iraq because of its pattern or deceit, evasion. US is trying to assist in creation of an effective opposition to Iraqi regimes. US has worked with the UK on opposition, war crimes issues. Assistant Secretary Indyk will likely meet with opposition leaders in London tomorrow. US wants to work with a broad-based opposition group. Iran has a long list of complaints against Iraq; but US is not working with Iran. US is giving a greater push to developing evidentiary base to war crimes issues.
• IRAQ SUBMITS THIRD EXPLANATION ON DOCUMENT ACCESS By Judy Aita USIA 23 November 1998 -- After calling Iraq's explanation for denying U.N. weapons inspectors access to documents "inadequate," the United States says it is reviewing Baghdad's latest explanation of its actions.
• The Coming Fight Over Inspection Targets In Iraq by Douglas Scott, November 23, 1998 -- With the coming of OMV, the inspection and monitoring was expanded to include capable civilian facilities — namely facilities that are dual-capable in the sense of being capable of contributing to the production of prohibited weapons as well as having innocent civilian uses.
• BRITAIN / IRAQ Voice of America 23 November 1998 -- BRITAIN'S FOREIGN OFFICE HAS GATHERED REPRESENTATIVES FROM 16 IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS FOR A MEETING TO SEE IF THEY CAN BETTER COORDINATE THEIR EFFORTS TO OUST IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN.
• COHEN-IRAQ Voice of America 23 November 1998 -- DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS IF BAGHDAD BLOCKS ACCESS TO EITHER PAPER OR PLACES, IRAQ WILL FACE A RENEWED THREAT OF AIR STRIKES.
• IRAQ / U-N Voice of America 23 November 1998 -- U-N SPECIAL ENVOY PRAKASH SHAH ARRIVED MONDAY IN BAGHDAD FROM BAHRAIN, ACCOMPANIED BY ADDITIONAL WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
• =U-N / IRAQ DOCUMENTS Voice of America 23 November 1998 -- THE LATEST IRAQI RESPONSE CAME IN A LETTER TODAY (MONDAY) TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL. THE 18-PAGE LETTER ACCUSES UNSCOM CHAIRMAN RICHARD BUTLER OF MAKING UNFOUNDED CHARGES AGAINST IRAQ AND PUTTING FORWARD REQUESTS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO SATISFY.
• U-S / IRAQ Voice of America 23 November 1998 -- U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE STEPPING UP THEIR BEHIND THE SCENES EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN DOMESTIC OPPOSITION TO IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
• U-N / IRAQ / ARMS Voice of America 23 November 1998 -- MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL SAY THEY ARE DISAPOINTED WITH IRAQ'S REFUSAL TO HAND OVER DOCUMENTS REQUESTED BY THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM.

FAS | News | Iraq | 1998 | Nov |||| Index | Search |