DATE=6/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251008
TITLE=SENATE-IRAQ (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS REJECTING CALLS TO GIVE 
IRAQI RESISTANCE GROUPS WEAPONS AND TRAINING ALONG WITH 
NON-LETHAL HELP.  V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: THE STATE DEPARTMENT WILL SOON START PARCELING OUT 97- 
MILLION DOLLARS TO IRAQI DISSIDENTS.   CONGRESS HAS AUTHORIZED 
MILITARY AID,  BUT THE FIRST BATCH OF ASSISTANCE WILL GO FOR 
THINGS LIKE COMPUTERS AND FAX MACHINES, TO HELP THESE GROUPS SET 
UP OFFICES AND SPREAD THEIR MESSAGE.

AT A SENATE HEARING (WEDNESDAY) DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF 
STATE BETH JONES DEFENDED THE POLICY.  SHE SAYS THE OPPOSITION  
NEEDS TO UNIFY AND BROADEN ITS POLITICAL BASE BEFORE TRYING TO 
LAUNCH ANY ARMED INSURRECTION.

                        /// JONES ACT ///

         THERE ARE A HOST OF ISSUES THAT MUST BE RESOLVED BEFORE 
         WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT PROVIDING ARMS TO THE IRAQI 
         OPPOSITION WOULD ADVANCE OUR OBJECTIVES OF PROMOTING A 
         CHANGE OF REGIME, AND  NOT  JUST LEAD TO MORE IRAQIS 
         BEING KILLED UNNECESSARILY.

                         /// END ACT ///

MS. JONES SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION IS SERIOUS ABOUT CHANGING THE 
GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD, THOUGH SHE DECLINES TO PREDICT WHETHER 
PRESIDENT SADDAM WILL BE OUT OF OFFICE BEFORE PRESIDENT CLINTON.

REPUBLICANS CHARGE THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOT MOVING QUICKLY OR 
AGGRESSIVELY ENOUGH.  THE LEADER OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS 
(I-N-C), AHMED CHALABI, IS CALLING FOR BOLD ACTION, INCLUDING 
WEAPONS AND TRAINING. 

                       /// CHALABI ACT ///

         IRAQIS ARE DYING NOW.  IT IS NOT USEFUL TO SAY THAT ANY 
         FURTHER AGGRESSIVE MOVES AGAINST SADDAM WOULD GET IRAQIS
         KILLED, BECAUSE SADDAM IS KILLING IRAQIS NOW.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE I-N-C IS PLANNING A MAJOR OPPOSITION CONFERENCE NEXT MONTH. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/DS/ENE/GM

23-Jun-99 2:21 PM EDT (1821 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.