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18 December 1998

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

Government Statements and Transcripts

• TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE 18 December 1998 -- The strikes will degrade Iraq's ability to develop and deliver weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and its ability to threaten its neighbors. United States forces have targeted facilities that are actively involved in WMD and ballistic missile activities, or pose a threat to Iraq's neighbors or to US forces conducting this operation.
• TRANSCRIPT: SPECIAL DOD BRIEFING 18 December 1998 -- Intelligence experts identify Iraqi targets in a briefing by Director of Intelligence Admiral Wilson, and Director of Operations Admiral Fry. "Operation Desert Fox" attacks have damaged Iraq's air defense system in the southern part of the country and hit other command and control facilities, including radio and television transmitters, security and intelligence sites and command and control facilities. The attacks also hit a number of sites critical to Iraq's missile capability, both production and research facilities. They also focused on division and corps headquarters of elite Republican Guard forces, airfields in southern Iraq at which attack helicopters are based and a refinery in Basra which the US believes is important to illegal Iraqi oil exports.
• BDA Asssement Summary Slides
• Operation DESERT FOX News Briefing Friday, December 18, 1998 -- Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen [Also participating in the briefing was Gen. Hugh Shelton, U.S. Army, Chairman, JCS; Vice Adm. Scott A. Fry, J-3, and Rear Adm. Thomas R. Wilson, J-2] I'd like to report that the United States and British forces are continuing to attack a wide range of military targets in order to decrease Iraq's ability to threaten its neighbors. We continue to be satisfied with the results, although the strikes are not yet complete. There have been no American or British casualties.
• REPORT ON SECOND NIGHT OF OPERATION 'DESERT FOX' PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, MR GEORGE ROBERTSON, AND THE CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF, GENERAL SIR CHARLES GUTHRIE, LONDON, FRIDAY, 18 DECEMBER 1998 In a series of raids, our Tornadoes have been involved in bombing a number of Iraqi targets linked to Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction programmes or his other military capabilities. The attacks contributed to our aim of degrading Saddam's ability to build or use chemical and biological weapons and to diminish the military threat that he poses to his neighbours.
• State Department Briefing -- 18 December 1998 -- IRAQ Secretary Albright has spoken with more than 30 foreign ministers last two days. US Medium-term goal is to contain Iraq, as Secretary said yesterday. US is sensitive to onset of Ramadan. Secretary yesterday referred to long-term goal of regime change. US is increasing its support for Iraqi opposition. US has great confidence in UNSCOM chairman competence, abilities. US sees no reason to replace Ambassador Butler. US has no reason to believe UNSCOM would be allowed to be effective. Military power can't assure change of Iraqi intentions. US saw no further need for diplomacy before acting. US pleased by Saudi Arabian Government statement today. Need for international support must be weighed against military need for surprise. US has widespread support in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Defense Department has spoken to dropping of leaflets. US is pleased with supportive reaction of Turkey. NATO support. Syria lack of support. Secretary has spoken to Arafat, half a dozen other Arab leaders in past day or so. Most US embassies in Africa remain closed today.
• TRANSCRIPT: ALBRIGHT INTERVIEW ON CNN'S EARLY EDITION 18 December 1998 -- The temporary closure of some 40 US embassies located in Africa, Kuwait and Israel is a precautionary measure taken in response to "some specific security threats," says Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
• TRANSCRIPT: ALBRIGHT ON NBC'S TODAY SHOW 18 December 1998 -- The US military strike against Iraq, now in its third day, is "on track," says Secretary of State Albright. During an interview on NBC's "Today Show" December 18, Albright emphasized that the purpose of the strike is to "degrade" Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's ability to develop and deliver weapons of mass destruction.
• EDITED TRANSCRIPT OF DOORSTEP GIVEN BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MR TONY BLAIR 18 December 1998 -- I am pleased to say that though it is very early at this stage to do a proper battle damage assessment, nonetheless I believe that we are on course to achieve our military objective.
• TRANSCRIPT: INDYK TELECONFERENCE ON US POLICY ON IRAQ 18 December 1998 -- U.S. Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Martin Indyk says Saddam Hussein's refusal to "comply and fully cooperate" with U.N. weapons inspectors led to the air strikes against Iraq. "Iraq promised to cooperate fully, they did it in writing -- unconditionally, fully ... and they didn't do that," Indyk said.

  News Reports

• Targets suggest expanded aims By Fred Kaplan, Boston Globe, 12/18/98 -- John Pike, a weapons analyst at the Federation of American Scientists, inferred from this that "the objectives of the campaign must also be to weaken his regime."
• U.S. Weaponry in Gulf Is Tough but Not Enough, Arms Experts Say By ART PINE, Los Angeles Times Friday, December 18, 1998 -- It's unlikely that the Clinton administration and its British allies will be able to fulfill their goal of "degrading" Iraq's military capability if, as top officials have hinted, the attack is limited to a few days. "It depends what they mean by 'degrade,' " said John Pike, a weapons analyst with the Federation of American Scientists. "With what they've got out there now, 'degrade' means that every building they target will have a hole in its roof. That's annoying, but not a disaster. . . . With 1,000-pound bombs in those Tomahawks, they certainly aren't going to be leveling such facilities."
• Pentagon Says Jets Avoided Poison Gas Centers in Iraq By STEVEN LEE MYERS The New Work Times (December 18) The Pentagon said Thursday that American and British attack jets battered military, intelligence and communications targets across Iraq for a second day but carefully avoided hitting commercial plants that might produce chemical or biological weapons.
• MAP - Target: Iraq The New Work Times (December 18)
• JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIRMAN SAYS AIR STRIKES CUT IRAQI ASSETS By Jacquelyn S. Porth USIA 18 December 1998 -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Henry Shelton says U.S. and British air action against Iraqi military targets -- now in its third day -- has succeeded in reducing Saddam Hussein's military assets.
• "SADDAM LEFT US NO CHOICE BUT TO ACT FORCEFULLY," PICKERING SAYS By Rick Marshall USIA 18 December 1998 -- The United States has "taken appropriate military action" in response to Saddam Hussein's "persistent refusal to comply with Security Council resolutions," Under Secretary of State Thomas Pickering said at a December 18 briefing at the Foreign Press Center.
• Air strikes on key Iraqi targets continue 18 December 1998 Air Force Print News -- Allied aircraft and missiles "continue to attack a wide range of military targets," according to the secretary of defense. "The strikes have unfolded in the sequence we have planned them. If there was a surprise," said one official, "it's been the complete lack of response (by Iraqi forces)." Southern Iraq air defense systems, the officials said, "certainly have been degraded" to clear a path for pilots flying in for strikes. The hit list also included five airfields that housed helicopters and unmanned aircraft that could deliver chemical or biological weapons. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress pilots delivered air-launched cruise missiles carrying 2,000-pound warheads, some of which struck targets in Baghdad.
• Desert Fox Target Toll Climbs Past 75 Iraqi Sites By Paul Stone American Forces Press Service 18 December 1998 -- U.S. and British air and naval forces have attacked more than 75 Iraqi military targets after two nights of bombing in Operation Desert Fox, Pentagon leaders said here.
• MILITARY FACILITIES HEAVILY DAMAGED IN BAGHDAD AND OTHER AREAS FROM US/UK BOMBING Iraqi Broadcasting Corporation (18 December, 1998): IBC correspondents in different parts of Iraq have reported significant damage from US and UK bombing in several Iraqi cities.
• IRAQ / ATTACKS Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- A TOP IRAQI OFFICIAL SAYS MANY SITES MONITORED BY U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN HIT. BUT U-S OFFICIALS SAY MANY BOMBS AND MISSILES MISSED THEIR MARKS.
• IRAQ / ATTACK Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- THE TOP U-S GENERAL, HUGH SHELTON, SAYS AMERICAN AND BRITISH WARPLANES HAVE HIT IRAQ HARD, FOR A SECOND NIGHT IN A ROW. THE LATEST ATTACK INCLUDED A WAVE OF AIR-LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILES.
• IRAQ STRIKES FRIDAY Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- IN IRAQ, AUTHORITIES ARE BEGINNING TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE FROM A WAVE OF AIR STRIKES THURSDAY NIGHT IN WHICH A NUMBER OF TARGETS IN URBAN AREAS WERE HIT.
• IRAQ STRIKES / FRIDAY Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- U-S AND BRITISH FORCES HAVE LAUNCHED A THIRD WAVE OF AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ. THE LATEST AIR STRIKES BEGAN AS PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN TOLD HIS PEOPLE HE WILL NOT BACK DOWN IN THE FACE OF THE MILITARY ATTACKS.
• U-S / IRAQ ATTACK Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- U-S AND BRITISH FORCES HAVE LAUNCHED A THIRD NIGHT OF AIR ATTACKS ON IRAQ. U-S OFFICIALS SAY THIS AIR CAMPAIGN HAS ALREADY USED ABOUT 300 CRUISE MISSILES -- MORE THAN THE NUMBER USED DURING THE ENTIRE GULF WAR IN 1991.

  Domestic Criticism

• U-S / IRAQ / CRITIC Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- RICHARD HAAS, A TOP NATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANT IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE CAMPAIGN IS NOT GOING FAR ENOUGH. A HEAVY AND SUSTAINED MILITARY OPERATION, HE SAYS, MIGHT STIMULATE OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM WITHIN HIS OWN REGIME.
• BOMBING PROTESTS Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- THOUGH PUBLIC OPINION POLLS SUGGEST AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF AMERICANS SUPPORT THE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, THE BOMBING HAS TRIGGERED A SERIES OF PROTESTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE RALLIED IN DOZENS OF AMERICAN CITIES.
• IRAQ ATTACK / IMPEACHMENT Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- WITH AMERICAN MILITARY FORCES STILL IN ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, THE U-S CONGRESS IS DECIDING WHETHER TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT CLINTON, THE TROOPS' COMMANDER IN CHIEF. A COMMANDER IN THE PERSIAN GULF, AIR FORCE GENERAL HAL HORNBURG, SAYS DEVELOPMENTS IN WASHINGTON WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON OPERATIONS NEAR IRAQ.
• Peace, Religious and American-Arab Groups Call for National Day of Mourning and Protest This Saturday -- December 18, 1998 -- Peace Action, the nation's largest peace and disarmament organization, joined other national peace, religious and American-Arab groups in calling for a national day of mourning and protest this Saturday, December 19, in response to the continued U.S. bombing of Iraq.
• War Resisters League Condemns Bombing 18 Dec 1998 -- The War Resisters League joins many countries and organizations in condemning the U.S. and British bombing strikes against Iraq. These attacks are in defiance of international law and usurp potential United Nations efforts to resolve the conflict with Iraq without further resort to violence.

  Domestic Responses

• THE ATTACK ON IRAQ CONTINUES AND SO DOES THE DEBATE Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- THE U-S AND BRITISH ATTACK ON IRAQ CONTINUES, AND SO DOES THE DEBATE IN THE U-S PRESS ABOUT THE ATTACK. MOST U-S PAPERS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE ATTACKS.
• POLLS SHOW MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ Washington -- A strong majority of the American people support President Clinton's decision to order missile strikes against Iraq, according to several major public opinion surveys.
• THE ATTACK ON IRAQ CONTINUES AND SO DOES THE DEBATE Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- MOST U-S PAPERS ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE ATTACKS, CITING THE THREATS POSED BY SADDAM HUSSEIN'S ACCESS TO CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS THAT COULD KILL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

  International Responses

• SADDAM SPEECH Doha Qatar, al-Jazirah Space Channel Television in Arabic 1538 GMT [Speech by Iraq President Saddam Husayn] "It is the third day of your jihad, patience, chivalry, and high flags of victory, God willing. We are in the third day of the immortal days of conquest. These are glorious days. History will be proud of these days and those who make them: The great Iraqi people, and their bulwark and sword: The heroic army, which records these days with letters of light."
• U.S.-UK STRIKES ON IRAQ CONTINUE TO DRAW SUPPORT, CRITICISM USIS Foreign Media Reaction Report - December 18, 1998 -- The ongoing U.S.-UK air strikes on Iraq continued to dominate headlines from all regions of the globe, with reaction mixed, ranging from staunch support to harsh criticism of the U.S. and President Clinton for opting for military action against Iraq at this time. The notion that the attack may have been timed by the U.S. president to deflect attention from his domestic travails triggered comment, with writers weighing in on both sides.
• Statement of H.E. Mr. Tariq Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq Friday Dec 18, 1998 -- It's a criminal violation of the charter of the United Nations, and it's a contempt to the Security Council of the United Nations. Clinton and Blair, in their justification of this criminal aggression, used the report of Richard Butler.
• TARIQ AZIZ PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT Doha Qatar al-Jazirah Space Channel Television 1625 GMT 18 Dec Let it be clear that Iraq will not accept any conditions. If the Americans and the British want to continue their criminal aggression against Iraq, let them do so. Iraq will not budge an inch on its national and pan-Arab stand, whether toward its own cause or toward the Palestine question. Iraq will not make any concessions at all.
• BRITISH / IRAQ BRIEFING Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- BRITAIN'S DEFENSE SECRETARY AND TOP MILITARY COMMANDER BRIEFED REPORTERS IN LONDON ON MISSIONS FLOWN THURSDAY AND EARLY FRIDAY BY BRITISH FIGHTER-BOMBERS AGAINST TARGETS IN IRAQ.
• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL 18 December 1998 -- When asked if the Secretary-General was concerned that Ambassador Butler, according to the New York Times, had first talked with American President Bill Clinton in advance of reporting to the Council, Mr. Almeida e Silva said it was not known that such a sequence had occurred. Further, the Secretary-General had nothing further to add to what he had already said regarding Ambassador Butler.
• U-N / IRAQ FRIDAY Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL IS ADOPTING A WAIT-AND-SEE ATTITUDE TOWARD IRAQ AND EFFECTIVELY POSTPONING ACTION ON A RUSSIAN REQUEST THAT IT CONDEMN THE U-S AND BRITISH STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ.
• 106 UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN STAFF IN BAGHDAD TEMPORARILY RELOCATED TO AMMAN, JORDAN 18 December 1998 Press Release SG/SM/6845 IK/268
• RUSSIA / IRAQ WRAP Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- RUSSIA HAS STEPPED UP ITS CRITICISM OF U-S AIRSTRIKES ON IRAQ, QUESTIONING THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONS WITH NATO AND RECALLING AMBASSADORS FROM LONDON AND WASHINGTON. RUSSIA'S LOWER HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT IS CALLING FOR AN END TO U-N SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.
• U-S / RUSSIA Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS SHE BELIEVES RUSSIA WANTS TO CONTINUE A BROAD-BASED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES, DESPITE PROFOUND DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE USE OF FORCE IN IRAQ.
• RUSSIA / IRAQ Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- RUSSIA HAS RECALLED ITS AMBASSADORS TO THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN TO UNDERSCORE ITS OUTRAGE AT THE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ.
• ISRAEL / IRAQ Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER YITZHAK MORDECHAI SAYS HIS COUNTRY WOULD TAKE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES IF IRAQ STRUCK AGAINST ISRAEL.
• RAMADAN / RELIGIOUS Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- THE MUSLIM WORLD IS PREPARING FOR RAMADAN, THE HOLY MONTH OF FASTING AND ATONEMENT.
• RAMADAN Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- THE MONTH OF RAMADAN, THE NINTH MONTH IN THE MUSLIM CALENDAR AND THE HOLIEST MONTH OF ISLAM, BEGINS SOON
• ARABS / IRAQ Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- DEMONSTRATIONS WERE REPORTED IN SEVERAL CITIES AROUND THE MIDDLE EAST TO PROTEST THE U-S AND BRITISH ATTACKS AGAINST IRAQ. THE DEMONSTRATORS SAY THEY VIEW THE ATTACKS AS AN ASSAULT AGAINST ARABS AND MUSLIMS, AND NOT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
• INDIA / IRAQ Voice of America 18 December 1998 -- SONIA GANDHI, THE LEADER OF INDIA'S OPPOSITION CONGRESS PARTY, HAS DEPLORED THE U-S AIR STRIKES ON IRAQ ONE DAY AFTER INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER CALLED FOR A HALT TO THE ATTACKS.
• Saddam Smiles

FAS | News | Iraq | 1998 | Dec |||| Index | Search |