DATE=12/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243338
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:    U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY UNDERSTAND THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN 
MAY NEVER ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS BACK IN THE COUNTRY, BUT 
THEY DEFEND AIRSTRIKES AGAINST IRAQ, SAYING THE REGION IS NOW A 
SAFER PLACE.  STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS.

TEXT:  SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS THAT 70 HOURS OF BOMBING 
HAS LEFT SADDAM HUSSEIN IN A WEAKER POSITION BECAUSE MANY OF HIS 
MOST IMPORTANT MILITARY FACILITIES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

                       // ALBRIGHT ACT //

         THE REGION IS SAFER BECAUSE WE HAVE MANAGED, I THINK, TO
         DEGRADE HIS ABILITY TO THREATEN HIS NEIGHBORS.  THE BOX 
         THAT HE IS IN IS STRONGER, BECAUSE OF THE CREDIBILITY OF
         OUR USE OF FORCE.

                          // END ACT //

DESPITE SOME REPORTS THAT THE U-S LED BOMBING CAMPAIGN WAS LESS 
THAN FULLY SUCCESSFUL, MS. ALBRIGHT AND OTHER OFFICIALS SAY 
IRAQ'S ABILITY TO PRODUCE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION HAS BEEN 
SET BACK.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE U-S JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL HUGH 
SHELTON, SAYS INITIAL ASSESSMENTS OF THE DAMAGE FROM THE BOMBING 
CAMPAIGN WERE VERY CONSERVATIVE.

                        // SHELTON ACT //

         HAVING LOOKED AT THE TARGETS I WOULD SAY OUR SUCCESS 
         GOES UP ALMOST DAILY AS WE HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE A MORE 
         COMPLETE ASSESSMENT. 

                          // END ACT //

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT AND OTHER OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT 
SADDAM HUSSEIN IS LIKELY TO REBUILD THE FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
BOMBED.  BUT DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE UNITED 
STATES WILL BE PREPARED TO ACT AGAIN IF HE DOES.

                         // COHEN ACT //

         THAT'S ALWAYS POSSIBLE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT HE MAY TRY TO
         REPAIR THESE FACILITIES, REBUILD THEM IN MOST CASES, BUT
         WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THE REGION. WE ARE GOING TO 
         MAINTAIN OUR MILITARY CAPABILITY, WE ARE GOING TO 
         CONTINUE THE SANCTIONS AND WATCH TO MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T
         POSE A THREAT TO HIS NEIGHBORS OR TRY TO RECONSTITUTE 
         HIS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROGRAM.

                          // END ACT //

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS HAVING U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS IN
IRAQ IS THE BEST WAY TO GUARANTEE COMPLIANCE WITH U-N SECURITY 
COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.

//OPT// BUT SHE SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS OTHER WAYS TO MONITOR 
IRAQ'S ACTIVITIES, AND WILL BLOCK THE LIFTING OF U-N SANCTIONS 
UNLESS IRAQ ALLOWS WEAPONS INSPECTORS BACK IN.

                       // ALBRIGHT ACT //

         THE TRUTH IS, IF THERE IS NO WAY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL 
         COMMUNITY TO MONITOR WHAT HE IS DOING THROUGH UNSCOM 
         THEN THE SANCTIONS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE.

                       // END ACT & OPT //

IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL NEVER ALLOW THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS 
BACK IN AND MS. ALBRIGHT ACKNOWLEDGES IT IS UNLIKELY THAT IRAQ 
WILL BEGIN COMPLYING FULLY WITH THE U-N.

MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS THERE IS NO SIMPLE SOLUTION TO DEALING WITH 
SADDAM HUSSEIN, BUT SHE SAYS THE GOALS OF THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN --
TO DEGRADE HIS ABILITY TO MAKE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION -- WAS
A SUCCESS.  AND SHE SAYS U-S OFFICIALS ARE PREPARED TO DO IT 
AGAIN IF NECESSARY.  (SIGNED)

NEB/KBK/WFS 

20-Dec-98 5:34 PM EST (2234 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.