ACCESSION 
NUMBER:344675

FILE ID:TXT301

DATE:05/18/94

TITLE:TERRORISM REPORT:  IRAQ (05/18/94)

TEXT:TERRORISM REPORT:  IRAQ

(VOA Editorial)  (380)

(Following is an editorial, broadcast by the Voice of America May 18,

reflecting the views of the U.S. government.)



The U.S. State Department recently issued its annual report on "Patterns of

Global Terrorism."  As the report makes clear, international terrorists

depend on the funding, training, safe haven, weapons and logistical support

provided by sovereign states.  The United States seeks to stop such states

from supporting terrorism and make them pay the cost if they persist.  The

United States has publicly identified state sponsors of international

terrorism and imposed economic, diplomatic, and sometimes military

sanctions.



One of the seven countries that sponsor international terrorism is Iraq.

The Baghdad regime provides sanctuary to several terrorist groups.  They

include the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which has killed hundreds of

people in Turkey and mounted terrorist attacks in many other European

countries.  Iraq also harbors members of such extremist groups as the

Palestine Liberation Front and the Abu Nidal Organization.  These groups

have committed outrageous acts of terrorism that have killed or wounded

citizens of many countries, including the United States.



The tyrannical regime of Saddam Hussein engaged in dozens of acts of

terrorism last year, especially against U.N. personnel and international

relief groups in northern Iraq.  U.N. and relief workers have been shot at

and had bombs or grenades tossed at their residences or vehicles.  Last

September, a U.N. truck carrying 12 tons of medical supplies was destroyed

by a bomb that U.N. officials believe was attached by Iraqi agents at an

Iraqi checkpoint.  The driver and 12 other people were wounded by the

blast.



The Baghdad regime's most brazen act of terrorism was aimed at the United

States in April 1993, Kuwaiti officials uncovered a plot to kill former

President George Bush while he was visiting that country.  In June 1993, it

became clear that Iraq was behind the failed assassination plot, and

President Bill Clinton ordered a missile attack on the Iraqi intelligence

service headquarters in Baghdad.  President Clinton said there should be no

mistake by Saddam Hussein or "any nation, group or person who would harm

1ur leaders or our citizens."  As Clinton stressed, the United States "will

combat terrorism.  We will deter aggression.  We will protect our people."



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