DATE=12/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243294
TITLE=BRITAIN/SADDAM (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  AFTER THE THIRD WAVE OF AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ, BRITISH
OFFICIALS ARE TAKING TURNS TO EXPLAIN WHY WASHINGTON AND LONDON 
DECIDED TO LAUNCH THE ASSAULT AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN'S MILITARY 
CAPABILITIES.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS BRITAIN
IS LAUNCHING A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN TO DIPLOMATICALLY ISOLATE 
SADDAM HUSSEIN TO CONTAIN HIM.

TEXT:  FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOKE OFFERS A LONG LIST OF SADDAM
HUSSEIN'S HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, IN PART TO JUSTIFY THE AIR STRIKES
LAUNCHED AGAINST IRAQI MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.  HE TALKS OF 
ASSASSINATIONS OF PRISONERS, MILITARY OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF HIS
OWN EXTENDED FAMILY. 

MR. COOKE TOLD A NEW CONFERENCE THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S AGGRESSION 
AGAINST HIS NEIGHBORS SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN EITHER.

                        // COOKE ACT ///

         SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS ONLY BEEN IN POWER FOR 12 YEARS 
         BEFORE SANCTIONS WERE PLACED UPON HIM AND HIS REGIME.  
         OF THOSE 12 YEARS IN POWER, WITHOUT SANCTIONS HIS 
         COUNTRY WAS AT WAR FOR NINE OF THEM.  IF THERE HAD BEEN 
         NO SANCTIONS FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, SADDAM WOULD BE 
         AT  WAR AGAIN.

                         /// END ACT ///

FOREIGN SECRETARY COOKE SAYS THE IRAQI LEADER'S BRUTALITY HAS 
EARNED HIM ENEMIES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY. 

                        /// COOKE ACT ///

         THAT'S WHY HE MAINTAINS AN EXTRAVAGANT NUMBER OF  
         MILITARY FORCES, WHICH ARE NOT THERE TO PROTECT THE 
         IRAQI PEOPLE BUT TO PROTECT HIM FROM THE IRAQI PEOPLE

                         /// END ACT ///

AS LONG AS SADDAM HUSSEIN REMAINS IN POWER, MR COOKE SAYS BRITAIN
WILL KEEP UP ITS CAMPAIGN OF CONTAINMENT.

                        /// COOKE ACT ///

         WE WILL PURSUING A STRATEGY TO CONTAIN SADDAM.  FIRST OF
         ALL, TO MAINTAIN A CREDIBLE THREAT AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT 
         BY SADDAM TO REASSEMBLE THE MILITARY WAR MACHINE OR THE 
         WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WHICH HAVE BEEN DESTROYED 
         DURING THIS MILITARY CAMPAIGN.

                         /// END ACT //

MR. COOKE SAYS BRITAIN WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE THE IRAQI OPPOSITION  
IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REMOVE SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM POWER.  

SINCE THE START OF THE AIR STRIKES WEDNESDAY NIGHT, BRITISH 
OFFICIALS -- FROM PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR ON DOWN -- HAVE BEEN 
APPEARING REGULARLY ON T-V TO JUSTIFY BRITAIN'S PARTICIPATION AS 
CRITICISM OF THE OPERATION INCREASES ACROSS EUROPE AND THE ARAB 
WORLD. (SIGNED)

NEB/LK/DW/GE

19-Dec-98 12:18 PM EST (1718 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.