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Clinton States U.S. Objectives, Goals in Iraq
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON -- U.S. forces will act unless Iraq's Saddam Hussein
allows U.N. inspectors free and unfettered access to suspected weapons
sites, President Clinton said during a Pentagon speech Feb. 17.
Clinton also said any U.S. attack can be blamed on Saddam
Hussein. "Saddam Hussein could end this tomorrow simply by letting the
weapons inspectors complete their mission," he said.
Clinton said he still prefers a diplomatic solution. "But to be a
genuine solution, ... a diplomatic solution must include or meet a
clear, immutable, reasonable, simple standard: Iraq must agree -- and
soon -- to free, full, unfettered access to these sites anywhere in
the country," he said.
U.S. objectives are to seriously diminish the threat posed by
Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and to reduce Hussein's capacity to
threaten his neighbors. "I am quite confident,... that we can achieve
the objective and secure our vital security interests," Clinton said.
He said U.S. forces are ready and that he has complete confidence
in service members who would be called upon to make any attack.
Clinton called U.S. service members the best-led, best-equipped, best-
prepared armed force in the world.
"Should it prove necessary for me to exercise the option of
force, your commanders will do everything they can to protect the
safety of all the men and women under their commands," Clinton said.
"No military action, however, is risk free. I know that the people we
may call upon in uniform are ready. The American people have to be
ready as well."
Clinton detailed Hussein's lies and evasions since the end of the
Gulf War. Under the agreement ending the war, Hussein had 15 days to
report about his nuclear, chemical and biological arsenal. "Iraq has
repeatedly made false declarations about the weapons that it had left
in its possession after the Gulf War," Clinton said.
U.N. inspectors have found proof time and again that Iraq lied
about its nuclear program, Clinton said. The Iraqis simply amended
their declaration to incorporate the discoveries.
"[Iraq] has submitted six different biological warfare
declarations, each of which has been rejected by [the U.N. Special
Commission]," he said.
Clinton said Hussein has the means and the will to use these
weapons and proved it many times in Iraq's decade-long war with Iran.
"He used chemical weapons against combatants, against civilians,
against a foreign adversary and even against his own people," Clinton
said.
The Iraqi dictator also has the means to deliver these weapons in
Scud missiles, which he previously launched against Bahrain, Saudi
Arabia and Israel.
Saddam's son-in-law defected to Jordan in 1995 and, Clinton said,
revealed that Iraq was continuing to conceal weapons and missiles and
the capacity to build more. After the defection, Iraq admitted to
having an offensive biological warfare capability, including 5,000
gallons of botulinum, 2,000 gallons of anthrax, 25 Scud warheads
filled with biological agents and 157 aerial bombs.
"I might say UNSCOM inspectors believe that Iraq has actually
greatly understated its production," the president said.
Clinton praised the inspectors for their work in the face of
Iraqi lies, deceptions and actions. "[The inspectors], the eyes and
ears of the civilized world, have uncovered and destroyed more weapons
of mass destruction capacity than was destroyed during the Gulf War,"
he said.
Clinton said the biggest failure would be to do nothing. "If we
fail to respond today, Saddam, and all those who would follow in his
footsteps, will be emboldened tomorrow.
"But if we act as one, we can safeguard our interests and send a
clear message to every would-be tyrant and terrorist, that the
international community does have the wisdom and the will and the way
to protect peace and security in a new era." |
