DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243163
TITLE=IRAQ / OPPOSITION REACT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=AMMAN
CONTENT=
WOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ HAVE BEEN WIDELY CONDEMNED 
IN THE ARAB WORLD.  BUT SOME ARAB LEADERS ALSO ARE BLAMING THE 
IRAQI GOVERNMENT FOR  NOT  COOPERATING WITH U-N ARMS INSPECTIONS.
MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM AMMAN.

TEXT:  THERE IS WIDESPREAD SYMPATHY FOR THE PLIGHT OF THE IRAQI 
PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE ARAB WORLD AND, AS A RESULT, THERE IS 
GENERAL CONDEMNATION OF THE U-S-LED AIR ATTACKS.  BUT SOME ARAB 
LEADERS SAY THE STRIKES WERE CAUSED, IN PART, BY IRAQ'S REFUSAL 
TO FULLY COOPERATE WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS.

A LEADER OF THE EXILED IRAQI NATIONAL ACCORD MOVEMENT, DERGAM 
KADHIM, SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CAUSE OF THE 
DISPUTE BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS.

                       /// KADHIM ACT ///

         IT (THE DISPUTE) IS A CONSEQUENCE OF A BADLY CONDUCTED 
         POLICY WHICH DEPENDED ON CHEATING, PLAYING GAMES, AND 
         BEING DISHONEST AND ADVENTURING THE FATE OF THE COUNTRY 
         AND THE PEOPLE OF IRAQ.

                         /// END ACT ///

/// OPT ///  MR. KADHIM SAYS THE WIDESPREAD ANGER IN THE ARAB 
WORLD OVER THE AIR STRIKES IS UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE OF SYMPATHY 
FOR THE ORDEAL OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE.  BUT HE SAYS THAT DOES  NOT  
MEAN PEOPLE SUPPORT THE IRAQI POLICIES THAT HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT 
THIS SUFFERING.

                ///  OPT  //  KADHIM ACT TWO  ///

         AT LEAST THERE IS A SEPARATION NOW BETWEEN THE REGIME 
         AND THE IRAQI PEOPLE.  THIS  (ARAB REACTION TO THE 
         ATTACKS)  IS AN EMOTIONAL REACTION AND THIS IS VERY 
         NATURAL AND SOMETHING TO DO WITH CONCERN ABOUT THE 
         PEOPLE THEMSELVES, NOT THE REGIME.

                 ///  END ACT  //  END OPT  ///

MR. KADHIM SAYS HE DOES  NOT  SEE ANY ALTERNATIVE TO THE U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTIONS PROGRAM IF THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT IS TO BE 
PREVENTED FROM REBUILDING ITS ARSENAL OF WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION.  HE SAYS HE BELIEVES THE UNITED NATIONS IS THE ONLY 
RESPECTABLE CHANNEL AVAILABLE, FOR THE TIME BEING, FOR 
NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE WESTERN POWERS.

BUT THE OPPOSITION LEADER SAYS THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION TO THE 
ONGOING CRISIS IS, IN HIS WORDS, THE DISMANTLING OF THE 
DICTATORSHIP IN BAGHDAD.   (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/JWH/RAE

17-Dec-98 11:02 AM EST (1602 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.