DATE=        JANUARY 26, 1999
TYPE=        EDITORIAL
NUMBER=      0-08166
TITLE=       EDITORIAL:  NEW IRAQI THREATS AGAINST KUWAIT

CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST 
JANUARY 26, 1999.

ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE 
VARIETY OF ISSUES.  NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.

VOICE:

    IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SAYS IRAQ NO LONGER RECOGNIZES 
THE LEGITIMACY OF THE COUNTRY'S BORDERS WITH KUWAIT.  THIS 
DEFIANCE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMES ON TOP OF IRAQ'S REFUSAL TO 
COOPERATE WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS.  BOTH ACTIONS ARE A THREAT
TO PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

    IN AUGUST 1990, IRAQ SHOCKED THE WORLD BY INVADING KUWAIT.  
THE INVASION FOLLOWED THREATS TO KUWAIT SIMILAR TO THOSE MADE 
THIS MONTH.  THE BAGHDAD REGIME MADE THE ABSURD CLAIM THAT KUWAIT
WAS IRAQ'S NINETEENTH PROVINCE.  AFTER MONTHS OF DIPLOMATIC 
ACTIVITY FAILED TO PERSUADE IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN TO 
WITHDRAW, AN INTERNATIONAL COALITION LED BY THE UNITED STATES 
LAUNCHED AIR STRIKES AND EVENTUALLY A GROUND ATTACK AGAINST IRAQ.
BY LATE FEBRUARY 1991, KUWAIT WAS LIBERATED.

    IN A CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION, THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL MADE IT 
CLEAR THAT IRAQ MUST RESPECT KUWAIT'S SOVEREIGNTY AND BORDERS.  
IN NOVEMBER 1994, SADDAM HUSSEIN RECOGNIZED THE IRAQ-KUWAIT 
BOUNDARY AS DEMARCATED BY A U-N COMMISSION.  AND HE CONFIRMED 
IRAQ'S IRREVOCABLE AND UNQUALIFIED RECOGNITION OF THE 
SOVEREIGNTY, TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, AND POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE OF
KUWAIT.

    FOR IRAQ NOW TO CLAIM THAT IT DOES NOT ACCEPT THE BOUNDARY OR
THE EXISTENCE OF KUWAIT WOULD BE A CLEAR VIOLATION OF THE U-N 
CEASE-FIRE RESOLUTION.

    IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON 
MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE U.S. WILL CONTINUE TO CONTAIN IRAQ AS LONG
AS IT POSES A THREAT TO ITS NEIGHBORS -- AND AS LONG AS IT 
CONTINUES TO CONCEAL ITS PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL 
AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS AND BALLISTIC MISSILES.  THE U.S. IS NOW 
SEEKING TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF FOOD, MEDICINE AND OTHER 
HUMANITARIAN GOODS FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE.  AT THE SAME TIME, 
PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID, "WE WILL WORK FOR THE DAY WHEN IRAQ HAS A
GOVERNMENT WORTHY OF ITS PEOPLE."

ANNCR:

    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. 
GOVERNMENT.  IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, 
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A.  YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT 
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR  FAX US AT (202) 
619-1043.

25-Jan-99 2:29 PM EST (1929 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.