DATE=12/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243261
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ / CRITIC  (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE U-S AND BRITISH ATTACKS ON IRAQ HAVE MOVED INTO A 
THIRD NIGHT WITH AIR AND MISSILE STRIKES ON A VARIETY OF TARGETS.
IT IS THE LARGEST AND MOST SUSTAINED ALLIED OPERATION AGAINST 
IRAQ SINCE THE END OF THE GULF WAR NEARLY EIGHT YEARS AGO.  BUT A
FORMER U-S FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER SAYS THE CAMPAIGN IS  NOT GOING
FAR ENOUGH.  RICHARD HAAS, A TOP NATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANT IN 
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION, GAVE HIS VIEWS IN AN APPEARANCE AT THE 
BROOKINGS INSTITUTION HERE IN WASHINGTON FRIDAY.  VOA'S DOUGLAS 
ROBERTS HAS DETAILS.

TEXT:   MR. HAAS SAYS THERE IS  NO  DOUBT THE U-S ATTACKS ON IRAQ
ARE FULLY JUSTIFIED, AND HE REJECTS ASSERTIONS THAT PRESIDENT 
CLINTON ORDERED THE STRIKES SIMPLY TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM THE 
DRAMATIC IMPEACHMENT HEARING NOW UNDER WAY IN THE U-S CONGRESS.

                        /// HAAS ACT ///

         I SIMPLY DO  NOT  BUY (ACCEPT) THE IDEA THAT MR. CLINTON
         AND THIS ADMINISTRATION DID THIS SIMPLY TO DISTRACT 
         ATTENTION AWAY FROM MR. CLINTON'S POLITICAL PREDICAMENT.
         FIRST OF ALL, MR. CLINTON IS A SOPHISTICATED POLITICIAN.
         HE KNOWS BETTER THAN ANYONE THAT THE IMPEACHMENT TRAIN 
         IS NOT GOING TO BE DERAILED BY THIS CONSIDERATION.

                         /// END ACT ///

BUT WHILE HE SUPPORTS THE DECISION TO STRIKE IRAQ, MR. HAAS SAYS 
HE DISAGREES WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON BOTH THE SCOPE AND 
DURATION OF THE MILITARY OPERATION.

HE SAYS WASHINGTON APPEARS TO HAVE DECIDED ON A LIMITED, PUNITIVE
STRIKE INTENDED TO DAMAGE BAGHDAD'S ABILITY TO PRODUCE WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION AS WELL AS ITS CONVENTIONAL MILITARY 
CAPABILITIES.

IT WOULD BE WISER, HE ARGUES, TO EMBARK ON AN OPEN-ENDED CAMPAIGN
AIMED AT COMPELLING IRAQI COMPLIANCE WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL 
RESOLUTIONS, AND ENSURING THAT THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARE 
ALLOWED BACK INTO BAGHDAD TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK WITHOUT 
INTERFERENCE FROM IRAQI AUTHORITIES.

A HEAVY AND SUSTAINED MILITARY OPERATION, HE SAYS, MIGHT ALSO 
STIMULATE OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM WITHIN HIS 
OWN REGIME.

                        /// HAAS ACT ///

         AND THE GOAL WOULD AGAIN BE TO USE MILITARY FORCE TO TRY
         TO BOMB IRAQ INTO COMPLIANCE (WITH U-N DEMANDS) AND TO 
         TRY TO STIMULATE THE CENTER, WHAT IS CLOSEST TO 
         SADDAM--ESSENTIALLY THE VERY SECURITY FORCES HE DEPENDS 
         ON--TO STIMULATE THEM INTO TURNING ON HIM.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. HAAS SAYS WASHINGTON SHOULD PURSUE EFFORTS TO BUILD UP AND 
UNITE THE IRAQI OPPOSITION IN EXILE, BUT ADDS THAT MILITARY 
ACTION CAN BE USED TO BREED NEW INTERNAL OPPONENTS, FROM WITHIN 
THE REPUBLICAN GUARDS CORPS AND THE OTHER ELITE UNITS THAT KEEP 
SADDAM IN POWER.

                        /// HAAS ACT ///

         THE GOAL WOULD BE THAT ONE MORNING, THESE PEOPLE WOULD 
         ESSENTIALLY GET TIRED OF BEING POUNDED BY AMERICAN 
         BOMBS, AND WOULD ESSENTIALLY SAY 'WE WOULD PREFER DYING 
         CHALLENGING SADDAM HUSSEIN THAN DYING AT THE HANDS OF 
         AMERICAN CRUISE MISSILES'.  AND THAT OUGHT TO BE THE 
         GOAL OF THE AMERICAN BOMBING CAMPAIGN.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. HAAS SAYS THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION APPEARS TO HAVE OPTED 
FOR A LIMITED MILITARY OPERATION BECAUSE IT LACKS CONFIDENCE IN 
ITS ABILITY TO SUSTAIN INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR A STRONGER 
CAMPAIGN.  BUT IN FACT, HE SAYS, MOST OF WASHINGTON'S ALLIES ON 
THE ARABIAN PENINSULA WOULD PREFER A HEAVIER STRIKE ON BAGHDAD 
AIMED AT BRING ABOUT A REAL CHANGE IN THE SITUATION.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/KL   

18-Dec-98 4:03 PM EST (2103 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.