DATE=  11/18/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222867

TITLE=CLINTON/IRAQ (L)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS SENDING ADDITIONAL U-S MILITARY 

AIRCRAFT TO THE GULF DUE TO THE CONTINUING CRISIS WITH IRAQ OVER 

U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. BUT THE ADMINISTRATION IS HOLDING OUT 

THE PROSPECT OF SOME CONCESSIONS IF SADDAM HUSSEIN PERMITS THE 

WEAPONS SEARCH TO RESUME. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE 

WHITE HOUSE.



TEXT: MR. CLINTON MADE THE DECISION TO REINFORCE U-S AIR POWER IN

THE GULF AT A MEETING HERE OF THE HIS NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL. 

THE ADDITIONAL DEPLOYMENT WILL AUGMENT A U-S MILITARY PRESENCE 

INCREASED LAST WEEK WITH THE DISPATCH OF A SECOND AIRCRAFT 

CARRIER TASK FORCE TO THE AREA.



BUT EVEN AS IT INCREASES ITS GULF MILITARY CAPABILITY, THE 

ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO MAKING CLEAR IT IS WILLING TO ENTERTAIN 

THE NOTION OF SOME CONCESSIONS -- PROVIDED IRAQ UNCONDITIONALLY 

COMPLIES WITH THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND ALLOWS THE U-N TO RESUME 

ITS SEARCH FOR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.                      

           



WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SAMUEL BERGER TOLD 

REPORTERS THIS COULD INCLUDE MORE LIBERAL SALES OF IRAQI OIL 

UNDER THE U-N'S OIL FOR FOOD ARRANGEMENT:



                     ///BERGER ACTUALITY///



         ONCE THIS IS RESOLVED, IF IT IS RESOLVED SATISFACTORILY,

         AND SADDAM HUSSEIN COMES INTO COMPLIANCE, LETS 

         INSPECTORS BACK IN, WE WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF HAVING MORE 

         OIL AVAILABLE UNDER U-N SUPERVISION, FOR FOOD, TO AVOID 

         ANY SUFFERING THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY AVOID FOR THE IRAQI 

         PEOPLE. THE PROBLEM OF COURSE IS THAT SADDAN HUSSEIN 

         DOESN'T COOPERATE WITH THIS PROGRAM AND WE HAVE TO FORCE

         HIM PROVIDE FOOD FOR HIS OWN PEOPLE. BUT WE WOULD BE 

         VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.



                          ///END ACT///



IRAQ WAS ALLOWED TO SELL TWO BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF OIL FOR 

U-N/DISTRIBUTED FOOD AND MEDICINE UNDER AN INITIAL PHASE OF THE 

PROGRAM BEGUN EARLIER THIS YEAR. NEWS REPORTS SUGGEST THE SALES 

VOLUME MIGHT BE DOUBLED UNDER A CRISIS-ENDING FORMULA.



NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER BERGER ALSO SUGGESTED SAID THE UNITED 

STATES MIGHT BE WILLING TO ACCEPT FEWER AMERICANS ON THE U-N 

WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAMS -- PROVIDED IT WAS A DECISION BY THE U-N

INSPECTIONS COMMISSION UNSCOM MADE ON TECHNICAL GROUNDS AND NOT 

DICTATED BY IRAQ:



                     ///BERGER ACTUALITY///



         IT'S ALWAYS UP TO UNSCOM. IT'S BEEN UP TO UNSCOM FROM 

         THE BEGINNING. AND AS LONG AS THEY MAKE THEIR JUDGEMENTS

         NOT BASED UPON SOME POLITICAL FACTORS, BUT BASED UPON 

         PUTTING THESE TEAMS TOGETHER ON THE BASIS OF TECHNICAL 

         COMPETENCE, THAT'S A JUDGEMENT THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOR 

         THE CHAIRMAN OF UNSCOM TO MAKE. WE WOULD NOT ACCERPT AS 

         A PRINCIPLE THAT THERE COULD NOT BE AMERICANS ON THESE 

         TEAMS.



                          ///END ACT///



AMERICANS HAVE MADE UP ABOUT 15 PER CENT OF THE 140-MEMBER 

INSPECTION MISSION. IRAQ'S DECISION TO EXPEL THE U-S PERSONNEL AT

THE END OF OCTOBER PROVOKED THE LATEST CRISIS AND PROMOTED UNSCOM

TO SUSPEND GROUND OPERATIONS IN IRAQ. AN AMERICAN U-2 SPY PLANE 

FLEW OVER IRAQ IN SUPPORT OF THE U-N MISSION TUESDAY DESPITE 

IRAQI THREATS TO SHOOT IT DOWN. (SIGNED)



NEB/DAG/EH



18-Nov-97 12:48 PM EST (1748 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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