DATE=        DECEMBER 17, 1998
TYPE=        EDITORIAL
NUMBER=      0-08107
TITLE=       EDITORIAL:  AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR IMMEDIATE USE BY ALL
SERVICES.

ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE 
VARIETY OF ISSUES.  NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

    MILITARY ACTIONS ARE UNDERWAY AGAINST IRAQ.  AIR STRIKES WERE
LAUNCHED BY THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN BECAUSE OF IRAQI 
DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN'S CONTINUED DEFIANCE OF UNITED NATIONS 
WEAPONS INSPECTORS.  AS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SAID, "SADDAM 
HUSSEIN MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO THREATEN HIS NEIGHBORS OR THE 
WORLD WITH NUCLEAR ARMS, POISON GAS OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS."

    AT THE END OF THE PERSIAN GULF WAR IN 1991, WEAPONS 
INSPECTORS WERE DIRECTED BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TO OVERSEE 
THE ELIMINATION OF IRAQ'S ABILITY TO RETAIN, CREATE, OR USE 
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  AS PRESIDENT CLINTON POINTED OUT, 
SADDAM HAS USED SUCH WEAPONS:  "NOT ONCE, BUT REPEATEDLY.  
UNLEASHING CHEMICAL WEAPONS AGAINST IRANIAN TROOPS DURING A 
DECADE-LONG WAR.  NOT ONLY AGAINST SOLDIERS, BUT AGAINST 
CIVILIANS.  FIRING SCUD MISSILES AT THE CITIZENS OF ISRAEL, SAUDI
ARABIA, BAHRAIN AND IRAN.  AND NOT ONLY AGAINST A FOREIGN ENEMY 
BUT EVEN AGAINST HIS OWN PEOPLE, GASSING KURDISH CIVILIANS IN 
NORTHERN IRAQ."

    LAST MONTH, THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL VOTED TO CONDEMN 
SADDAM'S DEFIANCE OF THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS.  EIGHT ARAB NATIONS 
-- EGYPT, SYRIA, SAUDI ARABIA, KUWAIT, BAHRAIN, QATAR, UNITED 
ARAB EMIRATES AND OMAN -- WARNED THAT IRAQ ALONE WOULD BEAR 
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF DEFYING THE U-N.  AS U.S. 
AND BRITISH FORCES WERE SET TO LAUNCH AIR STRIKES IN 
MID-NOVEMBER, SADDAM AGREED TO COOPERATE WITH U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTORS.  BUT ON DECEMBER 15TH, CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR 
RICHARD BUTLER TOLD THE U-N THAT IRAQ IS STILL NOT COOPERATING.  
HE SAID THE INSPECTORS ARE "NOT ABLE TO CONDUCT THE WORK 
MANDATED. . .WITH RESPECT TO IRAQ'S PROHIBITED WEAPONS PROGRAM."

    AS PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID, "IF SADDAM DEFIES THE WORLD AND WE
FAIL TO RESPOND, WE WILL FACE A FAR GREATER THREAT IN THE FUTURE.
SADDAM WILL STRIKE AGAIN AT HIS NEIGHBORS.  HE WILL MAKE WAR ON 
HIS OWN PEOPLE.  AND. . .HE WILL DEVELOP WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION.  HE WILL DEPLOY THEM, AND HE WILL USE THEM.  BECAUSE
WE ARE ACTING TODAY," SAID PRESIDENT CLINTON, "IT IS LESS LIKELY 
THAT WE WILL FACE THESE DANGERS IN THE FUTURE."

ANNCR:

    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. 
GOVERNMENT.  IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, 
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A.  YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT 
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR  FAX US AT (202) 
619-1043.

17-Dec-98 12:02 PM EST (1702 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.