For those that believe there are "no WMD..." Here are Clinton's thoughts (and many others) on the situation in 1998...
globalsecurity.org
18 February 1998
18 Feb 98 -- ALBRIGHT, COHEN, BERGER OUTLINE U.S. GOALS IN IRAQ
18 Feb 98 -- UN SECURITY COUNCIL GIVES ANNAN STRONG SEND-OFF TO BAGHDAD
18 Feb 98 -- U.S. AWAITS VISIT OF UN SECRETARY GENERAL TO BAGHDAD
18 Feb 98 -- ALBRIGHT, COHEN, BERGER AT TOWN MEETING ON IRAQ
18 Feb 98 -- TRANSCRIPT: INDYK 2/17 WORLDNET INTERVIEW ON IRAQ
[EXCERPTS] TRANSCRIPT: WHITE HOUSE DAILY BRIEFING USIA 18 February 1998
THE CASE FOR ATTACKING IRAQ IF DIPLOMACY FAILS Voice of America 18 February 1998 -- AFTER SOME CRITICISM HE HAD NOT MADE THE U-S CASE AS CLEAR AND COMPELLING AS IT NEEDED TO BE, PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS SPELLED OUT THE AMERICAN POSITION IN A SPEECH AT THE PENTAGON. U-S DAILIES ARE FULL OF REACTION TO THE COMMENTS.
IRAQ/U-N Voice of America 18 February 1998 -- IN WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, U-N OFFICIALS IN BAGHDAD ANNOUNCED 31 PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN IRAQ WILL LEAVE THE COUNTRY THURSDAY. MORE 300 OTHER U-N STAFFERS -- INCLUDING THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS -- WILL REMAIN IN IRAQ, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING.
IRAQ TOWN HALL Voice of America 18 February 1998 --THE APPEAL TO AMERICA'S HEARTLAND GAVE THE OFFICIALS A TASTE OF THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THEIR POLICY.
IRAQ / FRANCE Voice of America 18 February 1998 --FRANCE SAYS IT IS STILL NOT TOO LATE TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE IRAQI CRISIS.
HUNGARY / PRIMAKOV / IRAQ Voice of America 18 February 1998 -- RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV SAYS HE BELIEVES THE IRAQ CRISIS WILL BE SETTLED DIPLOMATICALLY -- WITHOUT THE USE OF FORCE.
CLINTON / IRAQ Voice of America 18 February 1998 -- CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE LOW EXPECTATIONS FOR THE MISSION TO BAGHDAD BY U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN.
ARAB RESPONSE TO A U-S ATTACK (1) Voice of America 18 February 1998 -- AS A U-S ATTACK ON IRAQ APPEARS TO DRAW CLOSER, ANALYSTS ARE CONSIDERING ITS IMPACT ON THE MIDDLE EAST, PERHAPS STRENGTHENING OPPOSITION TO SADDAM HUSSEIN OR POSSIBLY LEADING TO A SURGE OF ANTI-AMERICANISM.
ARAB RESPONSE TO A U-S ATTACK (2) Voice of America 18 February 1998 -- OPINION WAS SHARPLY DIVIDED ON WHETHER THE UNITED STATES SHOULD SUPPORT AN IRAQI OPPOSITION MOVEMENT TO SADDAM HUSSEIN.
EUROPE ON IRAQ: THERE GOES THE COMMON EUROPEAN POLICY USIA Foreign Media Reacton Report 18 February 1998 -- The divisions among European Union and NATO member and aspirant nations prevent them from speaking as one.
Clinton Makes Case for Strike -- Wednesday, February 18, 1998; Page A01 -- President Clinton offered his most detailed case yet to explain why curtailing Iraq's weapons programs is worth going to war.
$2 Billion Bomber Sits in Wings -- Wednesday, February 18, 1998; Page A01 -- The B-2 bomber is ready to fly in a raid against Iraq – but will it? The question reveals much about Pentagon politics.
FBI Probed Allegations of CIA Plot -- Wednesday, February 18, 1998; Page A15 -- Iran's description an alleged CIA-financed plot to kill Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in 1995 triggered an unusual FBI probe into whether the CIA violated a U.S. ban on involvement in political assassinations, officials said.
As Usual, Turkish Base Keeping Eye on Iraq -- Wednesday, February 18, 1998; Page A15 -- It's business as usual at Incirlik Air Base, NATO's southernmost air power staging point. That's because personnel monitor Iraq every day, watching over its "no-fly" zone.
Militant Group Threatens Israel -- Wednesday, February 18, 1998; Page A15 -- The Islamic group Hamas said it would strike Israel if the United States attacks Iraq, nudging the Jewish state closer to panic.
Clinton Warns of Air Strikes to 'Seriously Diminish' Threats by Iraq The New York Times 18 February 1998
Annan to Go to Iraq to Seek a Solution to Arms Impasse The New York Times 18 February 1998
Analysis: Modest Goals Point to a Modest Victory The New York Times 18 February 1998
Iraq Crisis Hurts U.S. Image in Mideast, Egyptian Officials Say The New York Times 18 February 1998
Iraq Struck Deal With Russians for Germ Weapon Plant, Sources Say The New York Times 18 February 1998 |
