DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243173
TITLE=BLAIR / IRAQ (L) 
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAYS BRITISH FIGHTER 
JETS HAVE JOINED THE SECOND DAY OF ATTACKS AGAINST IRAQ.  DEFENSE
MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAY THE PLANES ATTACKED TARGETS IN IRAQ AND 
RETURNED SAFELY TO THEIR BASE IN KUWAIT.  CORRESPONDENT LAURIE 
KASSMAN IN LONDON REPORTS PRIME MINISTER BLAIR DISCUSSED THE 
IRAQI SITUATION AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.

TEXT:  PRIME MINISTER BLAIR SAYS A MILITARY STRIKE WAS THE ONLY 
OPTION LEFT AFTER THE CRITICAL U-N REPORT OUTLINING SADDAM 
HUSSEIN'S CONTINUING EFFORTS TO BLOCK U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS IN 
IRAQ.  WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE AIR STRIKES ARE OVER, HE SAYS IS UP 
TO SADDAM HUSSEIN

                       ///  BLAIR ACT  ///

         I HOPE HE WILL FINALLY COME TO HIS SENSES AND RECOGNIZE 
         THE ONLY WAY TO FIND SUPPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL 
         COMMUNITY, AND A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, IS FULL
         COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITY COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. BLAIR SAYS IF SADDAM HUSSEIN DOES  NOT  COOPERATE, BRITAIN IS
READY FOR MORE MILITARY ACTION TO MAKE SURE IRAQ'S MILITARY 
CAPABILITIES ARE  NOT  REBUILT. 

THE PRIME MINISTER REAFFIRMED THE BOMBINGS AGAINST IRAQ ARE 
TARGETING ONLY SADDAM HUSSEIN'S MILITARY MACHINE.

         !           ///  BLAIR ACT TWO  ///

         IS IT A SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE TO REMOVE SADDAM HUSSEIN?  
         THE ANSWER IS IT CANNOT BE.  NO ONE WOULD BE BETTER 
         PLEASED IF HIS EVIL REGIME DISAPPEARED AS A DIRECT OR 
         INDIRECT RESULT OF OUR ACTION.  BUT OUR MILITARY 
         OBJECTIVES ARE PRECISELY THOSE THAT WE HAVE SET OUT.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR BLAIR ALSO DISMISSED QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT THAT THE BOMBING 
RAIDS WERE TIMED IN PART TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM PRESIDENT BILL 
CLINTON'S IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS AT HOME.

                    ///  BLAIR ACT THREE  ///

         THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS THAT THE TIMING OF MILITARY ACTION
         IS SOMEHOW LINKED TO THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF THE UNITED 
         STATES.  I REFUTE THIS ENTIRELY.  I HAVE  NO  DOUBT AT 
         ALL THAT ACTION IS FULLY JUSTIFIED NOW.  THAT IS MY OWN 
         STRONG PERSONAL VIEW.  I KNOW THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON 
         REACHED THE SAME CONCLUSION FOR THE SAME REASONS.  AND 
         HAD HE ACTED DIFFERENTLY OUT OF REGARD FOR U-S INTERNAL 
         POLITICS, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DERELICTION OF HIS DUTY
         AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

                         /// END ACT ///

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR TOLD PARLIAMENT HE BELIEVES SADDAM HUSSEIN 
WANTS TO DOMINATE HIS PEOPLE AND THE REGION BY MILITARY FORCE, 
AND WILL TRY TO HOLD ONTO HIS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN 
ORDER TO DO THAT.   (SIGNED)

NEB/LMK/JWH/RAE

17-Dec-98 12:16 PM EST (1716 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.