DATE=1/11/99
TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
NUMBER=6-11092
TITLE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP: U-S AND UNSCOM
LAVON/WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  UNITED STATES OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGED LAST WEEK THAT THEY 
GARNERED INTELLIGENCE ON IRAQ FROM UNITED NATIONS ARMS 
INSPECTORS. THE U-S ALSO ADMITTED IT PROVIDED SATELLITE 
INTELLIGENCE TO MEMBERS OF THE U-N INSPECTION TEAM KNOWN AS 
UNSCOM.  VOA'S__________HAS AMERICAN PRESS REACTION  TO THE 
REVELATIONS.

ANNCR:   THE MIAMI HERALD SAYS ON ITS SUNDAY EDITORIAL PAGE THAT 
IT'S TEMPTING TO SHRUG OFF CHARGES THAT THE UNITED STATES SPIED 
ON IRAQ THROUGH THE OFFICES OF UNSCOM. BUT, ADDED THE PAPER, U-S 
CREDIBILITY MAY SUFFER AS A RESULT. THE HERALD WRITES:

VOICE:   ALTHOUGH MANY IN THE UNITED STATES WOULD LOVE TO BREACH 
         [IRAQI LEADER SADDAM] HUSSEIN'S GOVERNMENT, THE PROBLEM 
         IS USING UNSCOM AS COVER. THUS FAR, IT HASN'T BEEN SHOWN
         THAT U-S OPERATIVES DID, IN FACT, MANIPULATE UNSCOM. BUT
         TO DO SO WOULD DAMAGE THE UNITED NATIONS' CREDIBILITY TO
         UNDERTAKE SUCH MISSIONS. MOREOVER, IT WOULD BOLSTER 
         HUSSEIN'S CASE AGAINST FURTHER U-S INVOLVEMENT IN 
         IRAQ... THE UNITED STATES MUST COME CLEAN, CLARIFY THE 
         ROLE OF ITS INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AND REAFFIRM ITS SUPPORT
         OF THE UNSCOM'S MISSION AND INDEPENDENCE.

ANNCR:   THE WASHINGTON TIMES IN A MONDAY EDITORIAL TAKES THE 
OPPOSITE VIEW, POINTING OUT THAT U-S INTELLIGENCE GATHERING UNDER
THE AUSPICES OF UNSCOM WAS KNOWN TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE 
INSPECTION TEAM.  THE TIMES ALSO NOTES THAT THE U-N OPERATION 
FILLED IN DETAILS ON INTELLIGENCE THAT WERE LACKING FROM 
TRADITIONAL U-S SOURCES.  THE PAPER WRITES:

VOICE:   UNSCOM HAD TO RELY ON HELP FROM U-N MEMBER NATIONS NOT  
         BEING IN POSSESSION OF MANY RESOURCES OF ITS OWN...IF 
         KEY UNSCOM OFFICIALS APPROVED OF THE SECRET PROGRAM, 
         THIS WASN'T AN AMERICAN CAMPAIGN ... INDEED, SPYING ON 
         SADDAM SEEMS AN EMINENTLY GOOD IDEA. NOT SO IGNORING OUR
         OWN INTELLIGENCE.

ANNCR:   THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS WRITES IN ITS SUNDAY EDITORIAL 
COLUMN THAT THE REAL WINNER IN THE UNSCOM DEVELOPMENTS IS IRAQ'S 
SADDAM HUSSEIN.

VOICE:   BY UTILIZING UNSCOM, THE UNITED STATES AND THE U-N HAVE 
         UNDERMINED--IF NOT DESTROYED--THEIR CREDIBILITY NOT ONLY
         WITH IRAQ BUT WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD. THEY ALSO HAVE
         PROVIDED SADDAM WITH A PLAUSIBLE REASON TO DENY 
         ADMISSION TO ANY OTHER WEAPONS INSPECTORS.  AND WHAT OF 
         THE NEXT IRAQ? WILL THE U-N EVER AGAIN BE ABLE TO SEND 
         IN INSPECTORS TO MONITOR AGREEMENTS? ONCE AGAIN, SADDAM 
         SITS BACK AND TWIRLS HIS MUSTACHE AND EMERGES A WINNER. 
         THE U-S EXERTS ALL THE EFFORT AND ACCOMPLISHES 
         NOTHING--EXCEPT TO COME OUT LOOKING RIDICULOUS.

ANNCR:   AND WITH THAT EDITORIAL FROM THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, WE
CONCLUDE THIS EDITION OF THE U-S OPINION ROUNDUP AND THE UNITED 
STATES AND THE UNITED NATIONS ARMS INSPECTION TEAM IN IRAQ KNOWN 
AS UNSCOM. (SIGNED.)

NEB/NL/KL

11-Jan-99 12:47 PM EST (1747 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.