DATE=02/18/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-272730

TITLE=U-S/IRAQ (L)

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S lawmakers of both political parties are defending Friday's joint U-S British air strikes against Iraq, despite international concern that the raids threaten stability in the Middle East. Some observers, however, are calling on the new Bush administration to reassess U-S policy toward Iraq. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White House.

TEXT: Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, a member of the Armed Services Committee, told the U-S television program Fox News Sunday that Friday's air strike was meant to send a signal to Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein:

/// MCCAIN ACTUALITY /// FOX

What I think the administration has done is express to Saddam Hussein and the world is: 'Look, we are not going (to give support) for continued violations.' I do not think the administration has come up with a new policy or revitalized the old. I do not think they have come up yet with what the plan of action is, but I think they wanted to send a signal to Saddam Hussein that this continued gradual escalation (of aggression) on his side will not be tolerated.

/// END ACT ///

Senator McCain's Democratic colleague on the Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin, agreed. In an interview with A-B-C's "This Week" program, Mr. Levin said the air strike did not represent a change in U-S policy toward Iraq.

/// LEVIN ACTUALITY /// ABC

This is a continuation of an existing policy to take action against Saddam when he puts together radars in a certain way that threatens our pilots, or he takes action against those pilots.

/// END ACT ///

U-S and British officials have called Friday's raid a limited operation to remove what they describe as an increased Iraqi threat to their pilots patrolling the no-fly zones over northern and southern Iraq.

But the action has sparked an international outcry. Many Arab countries condemned it. Russia and China permanent members of the U-N Security Council - called the strike illegal and dangerous. NATO allies France and Turkey who were members of the Gulf War coalition that ousted Iraqi troops from Kuwait a decade ago - are seeking an explanation for the decision.

Amid concern in the Bush administration that international support for containing Iraq is waning, Secretary of State Colin Powell is to tour the region beginning Friday to try to bolster such resolve.

Mr. Powell who helped lead the Gulf War coalition 10 years ago - is expected to argue that sanctions against Baghdad must continue, because Iraq continues to pose a threat to its neighbors.

But some observers believe more needs to be done.

Richard Perle - a foreign policy advisor for President Bush spoke on A-B-C:

/// PERLE ACTUALITY ///

Clearly, the policy of sanctions has not worked. It has been ten years and Saddam is still there, stronger than he was ten years ago. He had a parade in Baghdad recently and exhibited over one-thousand tanks. The sanctions alone are not going to deal with Saddam.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Perle believes the United States should do more to support the Iraqi opposition.

/// OPT ACT /// /// PERLE ACTUALITY ///

We should look at them as freedom fighters they want to liberate their country from the scourge of Saddam. With proper support from the United States, I believe they can bring down Saddam's regime, and there can be no peace or stability in the region until that happens.

/// END ACT /// /// END OPT ///

The Bush administration has given permission to opposition groups to resume U-S-funded activities inside Iraq. /// OPT /// The decision allows the Iraqi National Congress, an umbrella organization for groups opposed to Saddam Hussein's government, to tap into a multi-million-dollar fund established by Congress last September. /// END OPT ///

But Senator Levin of the Armed Services Committee believes that the Iraqi opposition will never have the capability of removing Saddam Hussein, and that the best option for dealing with Iraq is through continued sanctions.

/// OPT ///

Former U-S Ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke, speaking on the Cable News Network, agrees with Mr. Levin, saying the popular uprising that overthrew the government of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic last year could not likely be repeated in Iraq. At the same time, he says, support for the Iraqi opposition is an important part of U-S policy.

/// HOLBROOKE ACTUALITY /// CNN

I support the effort to increase our interface with them and work more with them. But because of the total totalitarian nature of Saddam, the kind of 'people power' that overthrew Milosevic last September in Belgrade is very unlikely. Nonetheless, working with the opposition to strengthen them is an important component of a policy that needs to be refined and sharpened in the coming months.

/// END ACT ///

/// END OPT ///

President Bush will likely discuss the situation in Iraq and the aftermath of the U-S British air strike when he meets with British Prime Minister Tony Blair Friday. (signed)

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