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17 December 1998

US Government Statements and Transcripts
News Reports
Domestic Criticism
Domestic Responses
International Responses

Government Statements and Transcripts

• TRANSCRIPT: COHEN, SHELTON PENTAGON BRIEFING ON IRAQ 17 December 1998 U.S. forces struck more than 50 separate targets, including attacks against targets outlined by Secretary Cohen which included weapons of mass destruction sites and WMD security sites and security forces, Saddam's integrated air defense and airfields and the command and control infrastructure that supports Saddam's military and his regime.
• White House Briefing BY JOE LOCKHART December 17, 1998 - Saddam Hussein precipitated this action, that in his efforts to frustrate the will of the international community, more particularly frustrate the work of UNSCOM, that he led us to an unacceptable situation where we had to act and strike militarily.
• REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT IN PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH FOREIGN POLICY TEAM December 17, 1998 -- I am convinced the decision I made to order this military action, though difficult, was absolutely the right thing to do. It is in our interest and in the interest of people all around the world. Saddam Hussein has used weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles before; I have no doubt he would use them again if permitted to develop them.
• TRANSCRIPT: SECRETARY OF STATE'S BRIEFING ON IRAQ 17 December 1998 -- With the military strike against Iraq entering its second day, Secretary of State Albright detailed US short, medium and long-term goals in Iraq. Although the current military campaign is not designed to eliminate Saddam Hussein, the United States has "come to the determination that the Iraqi people would benefit if they had a government that really represented them," Albright said.
• TRANSCRIPT: ALBRIGHT ON CNN'S WORLD VIEW DECEMBER 17, 1998 -- Secretary of State Albright praised the "outstanding job" done by Richard Butler, who is responsible for United Nations inspections of weapons sites in Iraq.
• TRANSCRIPT: ALBRIGHT ON PBS LEHRER NEWSHOUR 17 December 1998 -- President Clinton's decision to launch a military strike against Iraq on December 16 was based squarely on the chief UN weapon inspector's report citing continued non-cooperation from the regime of Saddam Hussein, says Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
• Ba'ath Party Offices In Aadhamiyya Used To Conceal Sensitive Military Material Source: UK Government paper, released 17 December 1998 -- During the last months of 1997, the Iraqi authorities moved sensitive military material by night to a large shed within the compound of the Shu'ba Aadhamiyya offices of the Ba'ath party in the Aadhamiyya district of Baghdad. The shed is normally used to house military uniforms.
• MINISTRY OF DEFENCE MORNING PRESS CONFERENCE (17/12/98) 'It is of course this morning too early to say what the results will have been of the military action that was taken during the night. but the pictures on television today from Baghdad - I think - amply illustrate how well it is we have chosen the targets that were adopted and I am confident that this military exercise is one that will fulfil its objectives and we will continue until we have fulfilled those objectives.' More...
• MISSILE ATTACKS AGAINST BAGHDAD: FOREIGN SECRETARY, MR ROBIN COOK, INTERVIEW (17/12/98) 'We have prepared plans that are very clearly targeted on military installations and designed to achieve our two clear objectives: first of all to stop his programme to develop weapons of mass terror, chemical, biological weapons with which he could threaten whole cities in the region; and secondly, to sharply diminish the military war machine he maintains, both to threaten his neighbours and also of course to suppress his own people. He stays in power by his military power...
• BLAIR ADDRESSES HOUSE OF COMMONS (17/12/98) 'I would rather that we had not had to do this. I am aware of the risks we are asking our forces to face. I do so, not lightly, but with a profound sense of responsibility. But I do so confident they will achieve our aims, and convinced we have taken the right course of action. For whatever the risks we face today, they are as nothing compared to the risks if we do not halt Saddam Hussein's programme of developing chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction.'
• OPENING SPEECH BY THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, MR ROBIN COOK, IN AN EMERGENCY DEBATE, HOUSE OF COMMONS, LONDON, THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER 1998 -- My starting-point is the report submitted by Richard Butler to the Security Council. That report could not make more clear that Saddam has not kept the commitments which averted military action only last month. The report details the familiar pattern of obstruction, delay and deception.

  News Reports

• Britain, US punish Baghdad By Colum Lynch, Globe Correspondent and Michael Kranish, Boston Globe, 12/17/98 -- John Pike, a military analyst for the American Federation of Scientists, said in an interview that the attack appeared to be the largest on Iraq during the Clinton administration. Still, Pike said he wondered whether the United States could destroy the chemical and biological weapons facilities within the two or three-day window of attack suggested by White House officials. "They would need twice as many airplanes for twice as long," Pike said.
• Unfinished Business By David Phinney ABCNEWS.com 12/17/98 -- There’s little reason to believe that smart bombs can track down what U.N. weapons inspectors have failed to find during the past seven years. "Anything of any size has been found already,” says John Pike, an international security analyst with the Federation of American Scientists. “The problem is that Iraqi security forces are moving the material around all the time.”
• RICHARD BUTLER SAYS HIS REPORT WAS HONEST, FACTUAL By Judy Aita USIA 17 December 1998 -- The chief UN arms inspector December 17 defended his assessment of Baghdad's failure to cooperate with the UN Special Commission saying that his report was "honest, factual, and objective" and its timing "was not constructed to suit US purposes."
• U.S. Naval forces lead strike on Iraq by Dennis L. Everette, Navy News Service Editor 17 December 1998 -- Ships and aircraft from the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Battle Group (BG) and other ships in the Arabian Gulf launched Tomahawk cruise missiles against military targets in Iraq on Dec. 16 as part of Operation Desert Fox.
• U-N / IRAQ THURSDAY Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- OFFICIALS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ARE REASSESSING THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION CONCERNING IRAQ AND CONSIDERING HOW TO ARRANGE FOR THE RETURN OF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO THAT COUNTRY.
• IRAQ ATTACK SITREP Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- THE TOP U-S GENERAL, HUGH SHELTON, SAYS AMERICAN AND BRITISH WARPLANES ARE STRIKING IRAQ FOR A SECOND-NIGHT. DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE BOMBS AND MISSILES ARE AIMED AT IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
• IRAQ / ATTACK Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- THE LATEST ATTACK INCLUDED A WAVE OF AIR-LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILES, WHICH CAN CARRY UP TO 14-HUNDRED KILOGRAMS OF EXPLOSIVES. DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY UP TO 112 OF THE AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE IRAQ ATTACKS.
• U-S IRAQ ATTACKS Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY A SECOND NIGHT OF ATTACKS IS TAKING PLACE AGAINST IRAQ, INCLUDING BOTH BRITISH AND AMERICAN AIRCRAFT. TOP U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRST NIGHT OF ATTACKS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED SOME KEY INTELLIGENCE AND DEFENSE TARGETS.
• CLINTON / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- PRESIDENT CLINTON IS EXPRESSING CONFIDENCE THAT THE JOINT U-S - BRITISH MILITARY CAMPAIGN AGAINST IRAQ WILL MEET ITS GOAL OF DEGRADING SADDAM HUSSEIN'S ABILITY TO DEVELOP AND USE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
• Bomb damage assessment photos of the Baghdad Directorate of Military Intelligence Headquarters and the Abu Ghurayb Baghdad Barracks Brigade and Depot, used by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Henry H. Shelton, U.S. Army, in a Pentagon press briefing on Dec. 17, 1998.
• Initial damage assessments show 'good coverage' Air Force Print News 17 Dec 1998-- Early assessments of battle damage from air strikes against Iraq is that "our forces are performing well," according to the secretary of defense. "There have been no American casualties, and we are achieving good coverage of our targets," William S. Cohen said. "As a result, we are advancing our goal of containing Saddam Hussein."
• Desert Fox Air Strikes Continue; 50 Sites Hit First Night By Linda D. Kozaryn American Forces Press Service 17 December 1998 -- U.S. and British air and naval forces attacked 50 separate Iraqi military targets Dec. 16 in the opening volley of Operation Desert Fox, Pentagon leaders said here.
• U.S. Strikes Aimed at Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service 17 December 1998 -- President Clinton ordered a "strong and sustained" air attack on Iraq Dec. 16 in response to continued Iraqi attempts to build weapons of mass destruction.
• COHEN/IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS EARLY ASSESSMENTS FROM A FIRST WAVE OF U-S AND BRITISH MISSILE ATTACKS ON IRAQ INDICATE SEVERE DAMAGE TO SOME OF PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S KEY DEFENSE AND INTELLIGENCE SITES.
• U-S / IRAQ ATTACKS Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- U-S AND BRITISH MILITARY FORCES HAVE BEGUN ATTACKING TARGETS IN IRAQ. PENTAGON PLANNERS ARE CALLING THURSDAY'S OPERATION "DESERT FOX". THE OPERATION IS EXPECTED TO LAST SEVERAL DAYS, AND CASUALTY AND DAMAGE REPORTS ARE BEGINNING TO COME IN FROM IRAQ.
• Cohen, Shelton Praise Desert Fox Warriors By Linda D. Kozaryn American Forces Press Service 17 December 1998 -- America's military men and women deserve high praise for executing Operation Desert Fox, the Pentagon's senior leaders said Dec. 17.
• Saddam Abused His Last Chance, Clinton Says By Linda D. Kozaryn American Forces Press Service 17 December 1998 -- A month ago, the United States called off its war planes to give Saddam Hussein one last chance to cooperate. When he failed to do so, the United States took action.
• IRAQ STRIKE, UPDATE Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- U-S AND BRITISH FORCES IN THE GULF LAUNCHED A SECOND WAVE OF AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ THURSDAY EVENING.
• IRAQ / U-S WARNING Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- THE UNITED STATES HAS ORDERED THE EVACUATION OF SOME U-S EMBASSY STAFF IN KUWAIT, ISRAEL AND THE WEST BANK, BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF IRAQI RETALIATION.
• EDITORIAL: AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ [EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT]. Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- 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.
• IRAQ / ALBRIGHT Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT THEY HAVE FOR THEIR POLICY TOWARD IRAQ, DESPITE THE OPPOSITION THAT RUSSIA, CHINA AND FRANCE HAVE EXPRESSED ABOUT THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE.
• SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT DEFINES US GOALS IN IRAQ By Jane A. Morse USIA17 December 1998 -- With the military strike against Iraq entering its second day, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright detailed US short, medium and long-term goals in Iraq.
• CLINTON PHONES FOREIGN LEADERS ON IRAQ USIS WHITE HOUSE REPORT 17 December 1998 -- At his afternoon briefing for White House Correspondents, White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said Clinton had been on the phone during the day with several foreign leaders to discuss the ongoing air strikes on Iraq.
• COHEN, SHELTON EMPHASIZE STRIKES AIMED AT MILITARY TARGETS By Jacquelyn S. Porth USIA 17 December 1998 -- "We are not attacking the people of Iraq," Defense Secretary Cohen declared December 17 on the second day of "Operation Desert Fox" -- the joint U.S.-British military operation in Iraq. Pressed to clarify the military goal of the operation, Cohen said it "is not to destabilize the regime." Rather it is "to decrease and diminish" Saddam Hussein's capacity to threaten his neighbors.
• A U.S. Navy ship in the Persian Gulf launches a Tomahawk in support of Operation Desert Fox. 17 December 1998 -- DoD photo
• The first wave of strike aircraft launch from USS Enterprise for Operation Desert Fox 17 December 1998 -- DoD photo

  Domestic Criticism

• REPUBLICANS ON IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION TO STRIKE IRAQ HAS DRAWN AN UNUSUALLY CRITICAL REACTION FROM CONGRESS. SOME LAWMAKERS CHARGE THE RAIDS WERE TIMED TO INFLUENCE THE COMING VOTE ON WHETHER TO IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT.
• CLINTON / CREDIBILITY Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- MANY CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS ARE QUESTIONING PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CREDIBILITY IN THE WAKE OF THE U-S MILITARY ATTACKS ON IRAQ. THE AIRSTRIKES BEGAN ON THE EVE OF THE SCHEDULED IMPEACHMENT VOTE IN THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, ANGERING SOME OPPOSITION REPUBLICANS WHO ACCUSE THE PRESIDENT OF USING THE ATTACK ON IRAQ TO DELAY THE IMPEACHMENT VOTE.
• IRAQ / DIPLOMACY Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS CRITICS OF U-S POLICY TOWARD IRAQ HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE AND THEY SAY THEY ARE PLEASED WITH THE LEVEL OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR U-S ACTIONS.
• CONGRESS IRAQ UPDATE Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS PASSED A STRONG RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR AMERICAN TROOPS IN THE GULF. THE RESOLUTION ALSO URGES EFFORTS TO REMOVE SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM POWER.
• Bombing Iraq Won't Solve Problem By Eugene J. Carroll Newsday December 17, 1998 -- " ...it still must be asked what we hope to accomplish by air attacks on Iraq? Depose Hussein? Not a chance? The history of aerial bombardment confirms that it unifies a society and solidifies the political power of the leadership."
• U.S.Iraq War Talking Points by Joseph Gerson -- Thursday, December 17 -- This round of war designed to "degrade" the Iraqi military capacity and to weaken the Iraqi government is FUTILE as well as deadly. It will not only end the ability of U.N. inspectors to monitor weapons developments in Iraq to the extent that they have been able to do so, but it appears to commit the U.S. to an endless policy of military containment of Iraq - i.e. repeated wars and military attacks over an indefinite period which will be of dubious value.
• Amnesty International says governments must protect civilian life 17 DECEMBER 1998 -- Amnesty International is gravely concerned at the potential indiscriminate killings of civilians in Iraq, in the context of the present military operations by the US and UK forces.
• Iraq bombing -- Open Letter to The Secretary General of the United Nations The Members of the United Nations 17 December 1998 -- The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom is joining in the world wide protest of the unlawful bombing of Iraq by the US and British government.
• IRAQ / OPPOSITION REACT Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- PUBLIC OPINION POLLS TAKEN LATE WEDNESDAY BY MAJOR U-S BROADCASTING NETWORKS SUGGEST ANYWHERE FROM 60 TO 80-PERCENT OF AMERICANS SUPPORT THE LATEST MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ. SOME AMERICANS WHO OPPOSE THE BOMBARDMENT PLANNED VIGILS IN SEVERAL U-S CITIES (THURSDAY).
• CONGRESS / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS MEETING IN A SPECIAL POST-ELECTION SESSION. A HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT IS SPLIT ALONG PARTY LINES IS PROVIDING UNIFIED SUPPORT FOR U-S FORCES IN THE GULF.
• TEXT: FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER ON BOMBING OF IRAQ 17 December 1998 -- Jimmy Carter said December 17 that allegations by some members of Congress that President Clinton based his decision to strike Iraq on domestic politics were "unjust and ill-advised."

  Domestic Responses

• REACTION TO BOMBING Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- REACTION TO THE BOMBING OF IRAQ AMONG U-S POLITICAL ANALYSTS RANGES FROM QUALIFIED APPROVAL TO CONSIDERABLE SKEPTICISM.
• THE ATTACK ON IRAQ AND IMPEACHMENT QUALMS Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- FROM ONE END OF THIS NATION TO THE OTHER, U-S PAPERS ARE ALREADY RESPONDING TO THE ATTACK ON IRAQ. AND MANY OF THEM HAVE QUALMS ABOUT THE TIMING, COMING ON THE EVE OF AN IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDING AGAINST PRESIDENT CLINTON IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
• EXPRESSING UNEQUIVOCAL SUPPORT FOR MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES CURRENTLY CARRYING OUT MISSIONS IN AND AROUND PERSIAN GULF REGION (House of Representatives - December 17, 1998) [Page: H11722] Mr. SPENCE. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 612) expressing unequivocal support for the men and women of our Armed Forces who are currently carrying out missions in and around the Persian Gulf region, and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House, with the previous question ordered to its adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except 2 hours of debate, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Committee on National Security or their designees.
• House supports Desert Fox warriors 17 December 1998 (AFPN) -- Saluting U.S. warriors in Southwest Asia, the House of Representatives resoundingly approved a resolution Dec. 17 supporting the men and women in uniform serving in action against Iraq. The resolution "expresses the strong support of the Congress for the courageous, patriotic and dedicated service of our men and women in uniform," according to Rep. Floyd Spence, R-S.C., chairman of the House National Security Committee and co-sponsor of the measure.
• CONGRESS GIVES BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO U.S. AIR STRIKES 17 December 1998 -- The U.S. Congress has given bipartisan support to the U.S.-British air strikes against Iraq. Following is a sampling of comments from Republican and Democratic representatives and senators.
• CONGRESSIONAL REPORT - HOUSE REPUBLICANS MOVE TO START IMPEACHMENT DEBATE 17 December 1998 -- Impeachment proceedings against President Clinton, briefly delayed after the United States launched military strikes against Iraq, are back on track.
• TEXT: HOUSE SUPPORTS TROOPS CONDUCTING STRIKES ON IRAQ 17 December 1998 -- The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted its strong support for U.S. military personnel carrying out ongoing strikes on Iraq and reaffirmed that U.S. policy should be aimed at removing Saddam Hussein from power.
• TRANSCRIPT: SEN. SPECTER ON IRAQ, SYRIA 17 December 1998 -- Senator Arlen Specter briefed reporters and told them: "I do not think that the President acted (in attacking Iraq) because of the impeachement."

  International Responses

• A SKEPTICAL WORLD REACTS TO U-S IRAQ ATTACK Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- A SOMEWHAT SKEPTICAL WORLD PRESS GREETED THE U-S ATTACK ON IRAQ WITH CONCERNS SIMILAR TO SOME U-S NEWSPAPERS, NAMELY THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON'S DECISION MAY HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED, AT LEAST IN PART, BY THE PENDING IMPEACHMENT HEARING IN THE HOUSE.
• Statement of H.E. Mr. Mohammed Said Al-Sahaf, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, to the Press on Dec. 17, 1998 regarding the ongoing aggression of the United States and the United Kingdom against Iraq
• Ambassador Hamdoon's appearance on Larry King Live December 17, 1998 - 9:00 p.m. -- What are the WMD? I mean, they are biological and chemical stuff. Obviously, if you hit someplace targeting such stuff, you expect emanating vapors and deadly gases. This has not happened. I don't think it will happen. So where is the proof that they are really hitting mass destruction weapons? I think it's the question of weakening the government. I mean, they have come publicly on this and saying that they are after the government in Baghdad and that they want to topple, and that they have funded the so-called opposition in Iraq. That's the political scheme, Larry.
• WORLD OPINION ROUNDUP: AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ 17 December 1998 -- Early reports from the foreign press indicate editorial support for the December 16 U.S. air strikes against Iraq.
• IRAQ OPPOSITION Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- 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.
• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL 17 December 1998 -- Manoel Almeida e Silva, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, began today's noon briefing by recalling for the record the Secretary- General's statement of yesterday evening when he had said, "it was a sad day for the United Nations and for the world". The Secretary-General had gone on to say, among other things, that "what had happened could not be reversed", nor could anyone foresee the future.
• ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT, ADDRESSING REGRETTABLE DEVELOPMENTS IN IRAQ, STRESSES RESPECT FOR PROVISIONS OF UN CHARTER 17 December 1998 Press Release GA/SM/81 IK/267
• TEXT: NATO SECRETARY GENERAL SOLANA STATEMENT ON IRAQ 17 December 1998 -- NATO Secretary General Javier Solana said that Saddam Hussein "alone is responsible for the grave situation and for the consequences that his defiance of the will of the international community has entailed."
• BRITAIN/IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAYS BRITISH FIGHTER JETS HAVE JOINED THE SECOND DAY OF ATTACKS AGAINST IRAQ.
• BRITAIN/IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- BRITAIN WILL PROVIDE MILITARY SUPPORT FOR "OPERATION DESERT FOX" WITH ITS OWN FIGHTER JETS.
• BLAIR/IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR HAS ANNOUNCED THAT BRITISH WARPLANES ARE IN ACTION NOW OVER IRAQ AS PART OF THE U-S LED OPERATION.
• U-N / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- IRAQ, CHINA AND RUSSIA HAVE APPEALED FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO U-S MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ, IN A SPECIAL OPEN MEETING OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL (WEDNESDAY NIGHT).
• FRANCE / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- FRANCE HAS DISASSOCIATED ITSELF FROM THE U-S-LED AIR STRIKES ON IRAQ BUT ALSO CRITICIZED BAGHDAD FOR ITS CONTINUING FAILURE TO COOPERATE WITH UNITED NATIONS ARMS INSPECTORS.
• YELTSIN / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN HAS DENOUNCED THE AIR STRIKES ON IRAQ, AND CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO MILITARY ACTION.
• RUSSIA/U-S-IRAQ-UPDATE Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- RUSSIA IS RECALLING ITS AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, TO PROTEST U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ.
• RUSSIA / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- RUSSIA HAS CONDEMNED THE AIRSTRIKES ON IRAQ AND CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO THE MILITARY ACTION. THE U-S AND BRITISH ATTACK HAS DIMMED HOPES FOR RUSSIAN APPROVAL OF THE LONG-DELAYED "START-TWO" ARMS TREATY.
• ARABS / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- ARAB GOVERNMENTS HAVE CONDEMNED THE U-S AND BRITISH ATTACK AGAINST IRAQ. THE 22-MEMBER ARAB LEAGUE HAS CALLED AN EMERGENCY MEETING TO DISCUSS THE CRISIS.
• IRAQ / OPPOSITION REACT Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- 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.
• IRAQ STRIKE Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- IRAQ IS REPORTED CALM AFTER A SERIES OF U-S AIR ATTACKS DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.
• ISRAEL / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- ISRAEL, WHICH SUSTAINED SCUD MISSILE ATTACKS IN THE GULF WAR, SAYS IT IS NOT PART OF THE CURRENT GULF CONFRONTATION, BUT IS READY TO DEFEND ITSELF IF ATTACKED.
• PALESTINIANS / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- PALESTINIANS STAGED RALLIES OF SUPPORT FOR IRAQ IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA AND SOME LED TO CLASHES WITH ISRAELI SECURITY FORCES.
• EGYPT / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- PROTESTS ARE NOT LEGAL IN EGYPT. SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DEMONSTRATED IN CAIRO TO PROTEST THE U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ.
• IRAQ / ASIA REACT Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- JAPAN AND OTHER ASIAN NATIONS ARE REACTING TO THE UNITED STATES AND BRITISH MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ. JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI VOICED HIS APPROVAL OF THE STRIKES. AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER JOHN HOWARD HAS EXPRESSED HIS COUNTRY'S SUPPORT, SAYING THE ACTION WAS INEVITABLE.
• Chinese, Russian Leaders Exchange Views on Iraqi Crisis 17 December 1998 -- The use of force by the US and Britain against Iraq may have a serious effect on the situation in the Gulf region and on international relations, President Jiang Zemin said in Beijing today.
• China Condemns U.S. Airstrikes Against Iraq 17 December 1998 -- China condemned the U.S. airstrikes against Iraq and urged the U.S. to halt all its military actions immediately, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
• CHINA / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- CHINA SAYS IT IS DEEPLY SHOCKED AT THE U-S AND BRITISH MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ. BEIJING IS CALLING FOR THE AIR STRIKES TO STOP IMMEDIATELY.
• CHINA / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- A COMMENTARY IN CHINA'S MAIN NEWSPAPER, THE PEOPLE'S DAILY, BLASTS THE U-S AIR STRIKES. IN THE WORDS OF THE CHINESE PAPER, THE UNILATERAL MOVE BY THE UNITED STATES HAS SET A DANGEROUS AND ODIOUS PRECEDENT. THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY SAYS THE MILITARY ACTION SHOCKED THE ENTIRE WORLD.
• INDIA / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- INDIA HAS CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO THE U-S LED AIR STRIKES ON IRAQ. PRIME MINISTER ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE, IN A STATEMENT RELEASED TO PARLIAMENT, SAYS THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT IS GRAVELY CONCERNED AND DEPLORES THESE AIR STRIKES.
• AFGHAN-PAK IRAQ REACTION Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN HAVE REACTED ANGRILY TO THE U-S MISSILE STRIKES ON IRAQ, CALLING THE MOVE "ANTI-ISLAMIC".
• IRAQ / KENYA SECURITY Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- THE AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ HAVE CLOSED THE U-S EMBASSY IN KENYA. ALL U-S GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN KENYA ARE CLOSED, WITH LOCAL STAFF TOLD NOT TO COME BACK TO WORK UNTIL MONDAY.
• LATAM / IRAQ Voice of America 17 December 1998 -- OFFICIAL REACTION IN LATIN AMERICA TO THE U-S-LED ATTACK ON IRAQ, KNOWN AS "OPERATION DESERT FOX", IS MIXED.

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