DATE=  11/20/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-223023

TITLE=U-S/IRAQ WRAP (L)

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:   THE UNITED STATES IS TAKING A CAUTIOUS APPROACH TOWARD 

IRAQ'S PLEDGE TO ALLOW UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS -- 

INCLUDING AMERICANS -- TO RETURN.  RUSSIA HAS BROKERED AN 

AGREEMENT WITH BAGHDAD ALLOWING THE INSPECTORS TO RESUME THEIR 

WORK IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW OF UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS IMPOSED

ON IRAQ AT THE END OF THE GULF WAR. BUT AS CORRESPONDENT NICK 

SIMEONE REPORTS, THE U-S MILITARY BUILD-UP IN THE REGION IS GOING

FULL STEAM AHEAD.



TEXT:  DESPITE THIS RUSSIAN-BROKERED AGREEMENT, THE CLINTON 

ADMINISTRATION IS NOT TAKING ANY IRAQI PROMISES ANNOUNCED IN 

GENEVA FOR GRANTED. 



THAT POSTURE WAS IN EVIDENCE MOST VIVIDLY AT THE PENTAGON WHERE 

MORE ORDERS WERE APPROVED THURSDAY FOR THE DISPATCH OF ADDITIONAL

U-S FIGHTER JETS AND BOMBERS ALONG WITH COMPONENTS OF A PATRIOT 

AIR DEFENSE MISSILE BATTERY, USED DURING THE GULF WAR TO 

INTERCEPT IRAQI SCUD MISSILES.  



PENTAGON SPOKESMAN MIKE DOUBLEDAY CALLS THESE NEW DEPLOYMENTS 

PRUDENT, SAYING THEY WILL GIVE THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF U-S 

FIREPOWER ALREADY IN THE GULF REGION ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY.  HE 

SAID THE STANDOFF WITH IRAQ WILL NOT BE OVER UNTIL ALL UNITED 

NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS, INCLUDING EXPELLED AMERICANS, ARE 

BACK IN IRAQ DOING THEIR WORK.



                         // DOUBLEDAY ACT //



         WHAT I THINK EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR IS COMPLIANCE WITH 

         THE U-N SANCTIONS THAT WERE IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR 

         AND TO SEE THE INSPECTORS BACK DOING THE THINGS THEY 

         NEED TO DO TO MONITOR THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION 

         PROGRAM. 



                          // END ACT //



BY THE WEEKEND, THE UNITED STATES WILL HAVE NEARLY 300 MILITARY 

AIRCRAFT IN THE GULF AS WELL AS MORE THAN 20 SHIPS, INCLUDING TWO

AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, AND ABOUT 30-THOUSAND MILITARY PERSONNEL. 

DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE FORCES WILL REMAIN IN 

PLACE UNTIL THERE IS FULL IRAQI COMPLIANCE WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS 

REGARDING WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. 



AT THE WHITE HOUSE, PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS NOT PREPARED TO DECLARE

THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ OVER UNTIL PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN LETS THE

WEAPONS INSPECTIONS RESUME WITHOUT INTERFERENCE.  



                         // CLINTON ACT //



         IN THE COMING DAYS, WE WILL WAIT AND SEE WHETHER HE 

         DOES, IN FACT COMPLY WITH THE WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL 

         COMMUNITY. 



                           // END ACT //



AS PART OF THOSE INSPECTIONS, U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT 

AMERICAN U-2 SURVEILLANCE FLIGHTS -- FLOWN UNDER THE UNITED 

NATIONS FLAG -- TO CONTINUE.  IRAQ HAS THREATENED TO SHOOT THEM 

DOWN BUT HAS NOT RENEWED THIS THREAT SINCE THURSDAY'S DIPLOMATIC 

BREAKTHROUGH IN GENEVA. 



ON CAPITOL HILL, LEADERS OF BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE STRONGLY 

BACKED PRESIDENT CLINTON DURING THIS STANDOFF.  DESPITE THE 

APPARENT LESSENING OF TENSIONS, SOME LAWMAKERS, AMONG THEM 

REPUBLICAN SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER, ARE SUGGESTING A MILITARY 

OPTION MAY AT SOME POINT STILL BE NECESSARY. 



                          // SPECTER ACT //



         WE MADE A COLOSSAL MISTAKE IN 1991 BY 20/20 HINDSIGHT BY

         NOT GOING TO BAGHDAD (FIGHTING TO BAGHDAD).  WE CAN'T 

         MAKE ANOTHER MISTAKE BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE FATAL TO LARGE 

         NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.  



                           // END ACT //



FOLLOWING THURSDAY'S DEVELOPMENTS, THE QUESTION REMAINS WHETHER 

SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL ALLOW A COMPLETE ACCOUNTING OF ALL OF HIS 

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION  -- OR WHETHER THIS CRISIS IS BOUND 

TO REPEAT ITSELF. (SIGNED) 



NEB/NJS/TMD/WFR











20-Nov-97 5:33 PM EST (2233 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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