DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243158
TITLE=IRAQ OPPOSITION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  EXILED IRAQI OPPONENTS VIEW WITH CAUTION THE AIR STRIKES 
AGAINST IRAQI MILITARY TARGETS AND WARN THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S 
MILITARY CAPABILITIES WILL  NOT  BE SUFFICIENTLY WEAKENED BY THE 
ACTION.  CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN SUMS UP THEIR REACTIONS  
FROM LONDON.

TEXT:  SOME IRAQI DISSIDENTS LIKE NABIL MUSAWI OF THE "IRAQI 
NATIONAL CONGRESS" DOUBT THAT THE MILITARY STRIKES WILL SERIOUSLY
WEAKEN SADDAM HUSSEIN. 

                       /// MUSAWI ACT ///

         SEE IT FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW: THIS IS A VERY LIMITED 
         CAMPAIGN WITH A VERY LIMITED SCOPE AND IT WILL NOT 
         ACHIEVE HALF OF WHAT IT CLAIMS TO ACHIEVE.  SADDAM HAS 
         BEEN ANTICIPATING THE MILITARY STRIKES FOR WEEKS.    
         THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT IN IRAQI PAPERS EVERY 
         SINGLE DAY.  ALL THE WEAPONS, ALL THE LOCATIONS ALL THE 
         CAMPS OF THE SPECIAL SECURITY SERVICES HAVE BEEN CHANGED
         OR ROTATED OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. I DON'T THINK IT 
         WILL DO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO HIS REGIME.

                         /// END ACT ///

//OPT// MR. MUSAWI WARNS THAT THE IRAQI LEADER WILL USE THE 
ATTACKS TO RALLY PUBLIC SUPPORT BY PORTRAYING HIMSELF AS A VICTIM
OF U-S AGGRESSION.

                    /// SECOND MUSAWI ACT ///

         THE FACT THAT HE WILL EMERGE FROM TWO OR THREE DAYS OF 
         MILITARY STRIKES UNSCATHED WILL BE CONSIDERED BY HIM AND
         SOME PEOPLE IN THE REGION A VICTORY FOR SADDAM HUSSEIN, 
         BECAUSE HE CONFRONTED THE UNITED STATES AGAIN AND HE 
         LIVED TO TELL THE TALE.  

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

HAMID AL-BAYATI OF THE "SUPREME COUNCIL OF ISLAMIC REVOLUTION" IN
IRAQ QUESTIONS THE TIMING OF THE LARGEST AIR CAMPAIGN SINCE THE 
1991 GULF WAR.  

                       /// BAYATI ACT ///

         THE FACT THAT THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN IS VERY CLOSE 
         AND THE FACT THERE IS SOME INTERNAL PROBLEMS FOR 
         PRESIDENT CLINTON IN THE UNITED STATES GIVES THE PEOPLE 
         THE IMPRESSION THAT THE MILITARY STRIKE CAME AS A RESULT
         OF SOME SPECIAL INTERESTS FOR THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT.   
         AND THE REAL BATTLE BETWEEN THE IRAQI PEOPLE AND THE 
         IRAQI REGIME HAS BEEN IGNORED COMPLETELY. 

                         /// END ACT ///

MR BAYATI ALSO IS  NOT  CONVINCED THE AIR STRIKES WILL AFFECT 
SADDAM HUSSEIN'S IRON GRIP ON IRAQ.

                    /// SECOND BAYATI ACT ///

         IF IT'S GOING TO UNDERMINE SADDAM'S CAPABILITY OF 
         THREATENING THE IRAQI PEOPLE, THAT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR 
         CAMPAIGN.  BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU FROM THE STATEMENTS
         I'VE HEARD, THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THREATS AGAINST THE 
         IRAQI PEOPLE.  //OPT// MR. CLINTON HIMSELF MENTIONED THE
         THREAT AGAINST KUWAIT AND KURDS ONLY AND THAT IS SHORT 
         OF PROTECTING IRAQI PEOPLE AND PREVENTING THE REGIME 
         FROM OPPRESSING THE IRAQI PEOPLE.

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

EXILED IRAQI DISSIDENTS ARE CALLING FOR A COORDINATED MILITARY 
AND POLITICAL CAMPAIGN TO HELP THEM REMOVE SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM 
POWER.  BUT BRITISH AND U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THAT IS NOT 
THE AIM OF THIS MILITARY ACTION. (SIGNED)

NEB/LMK/PCF

17-Dec-98 8:30 AM EST (1330 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.