DATE=        05/17/99
TYPE=        EDITORIAL
NUMBER=      0-08299
TITLE=       EDITORIAL:  IRAQ'S NEW CITY FOR SADDAM

CONTENT=THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO EDITORIALS BEING RELEASED FOR 
BROADCAST 05/17/99.

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:

    THIS MONTH, IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN CELEBRATED HIS 
SIXTY-SECOND BIRTHDAY BY PRESIDING OVER THE OPENING OF A 
LUXURIOUS VACATION CITY AT AL-THARTHAR LAKE.  ABOUT 
ONE-HUNDRED-THIRTY KILOMETERS NORTH OF BAGHDAD, THE NEW RESORT IS
CALLED SADDAM'S THARTHAR CITY [SADDAMIAT AL-THARTHAR].  IT 
CONTAINS SPORTS STADIUMS, AN AMUSEMENT PARK, HOSPITALS, A 
RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW OF THE LAKE, AND MORE THAN SIX-HUNDRED 
HOUSES.  IT ALSO HAS A NUMBER OF STATUES OF SADDAM, INCLUDING A 
HUGE BRONZE LIKENESS ATOP THE WHITE STONE GATEWAY TO THE CITY.

    IRAQI OFFICIALS HAVE REFUSED TO SAY WHAT IT COST TO BUILD THE
NEW VACATION CITY.  BUT EVEN BEFORE THIS LATEST EXTRAVAGANCE, IT 
WAS ESTIMATED THAT SADDAM HAD SPENT SOME TWO BILLION DOLLARS ON 
LAVISH PALACES FOR HIMSELF AND HIS RULING CLIQUE.  THIS AT A TIME
WHEN SADDAM CLAIMS THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT BUILDING MATERIALS 
AVAILABLE IN IRAQ FOR CIVILIAN HOUSES, SCHOOLS AND CLINICS.

    SADDAM HAS TRIED TO BLAME IRAQI SHORTAGES ON INTERNATIONAL 
SANCTIONS.  BUT FOOD AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN GOODS WERE NEVER 
SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS.  MOREOVER, THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY 
COUNCIL HAS SET UP AN OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS IRAQ TO 
EXPORT ABOUT THREE BILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF OIL EVERY SIX MONTHS
AND USE THE BULK OF THE PROCEEDS FOR HUMANITARIAN GOODS.  THE 
PROBLEM, CLEARLY, IS NOT THE SANCTIONS BUT SADDAM'S PRIORITIES.

    IN ADDITION TO PERSONAL LUXURIES, SADDAM CONTINUES TO SPEND  
IRAQ'S SCARCE RESOURCES ON WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT.  IRAQ REFUSES TO 
COMPLY WITH THE U-N DEMAND THAT IT ELIMINATE ALL OF ITS NUCLEAR, 
CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS AND LONG-RANGE BALLISTIC 
MISSILES.  AS A RESULT, IRAQ REMAINS A THREAT TO ITS NEIGHBORS 
AND SUBJECT TO INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS.

    IT HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS NO 
INTENTION OF COMPLYING WITH U-N DEMANDS.  BUT THE BAGHDAD REGIME 
CANNOT HANG ON TO POWER INDEFINITELY.  INEVITABLY, AN OPPOSITION 
WILL EMERGE TO REMOVE SADDAM AND HIS CLIQUE FROM POWER.  SOONER 
OR LATER, THE IRAQI PEOPLE WILL HAVE THEIR CHANCE TO BE FREE.

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.

14-May-99 10:49 AM EDT (1449 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.