DATE=4/6/98
TYPE=BACKGROUNDER REPORT
NUMBER=5-39482
TITLE=IRAQI OPPOSITION 
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE LATEST CRISIS BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS HAS
FADED, BUT THE IRAQI OPPOSITION HAS NOT ENDED ITS CRUSADE FOR 
OUTSIDE SUPPORT TO BOLSTER ITS FIGHT AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN.  
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN TAKES A LOOK AT THE MANY GROUPS 
OPERATING OUTSIDE IRAQ'S BORDERS. 

TEXT:   OPPONENTS OF THE BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT CAN BE FOUND AMONG  
KURDS, SHIITE AND SUNNI MUSLIMS AS WELL AS SECULARISTS, SCHOLARS,
BUSINESSMEN AND FORMER MILITARY OFFICERS.   OPPOSITION GROUPS CAN
BE FOUND IN DAMASCUS, AMMAN, TEHRAN, LONDON AND OTHER EUROPEAN 
CAPITALS. 

SOME OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY.   SOME ARE SUPPORTED BY REGIONAL 
GOVERNMENTS WITH DIFFERENT NATIONAL INTERESTS WHEN IT COMES TO 
DEALING WITH IRAQ.

MOST ARE LOOSELY GROUPED UNDER AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS 
THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS.   THEY AGREE ON A COMMON GOAL --,THE
OUSTER OF SADDAM HUSSEIN.  BUT THEY DIFFER ON HOW THAT CAN BE 
ACCOMPLISED -- EITHER BY COUP OR BY POPULAR UPRISING, WITH OR 
WITHOUT OUTSIDE HELP.

DHOGAN KADHIM IS A MEMBER OF THE POLITBURO OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL 
ACCORD, WHICH IS BASED IN AMMAN, JORDAN.  HE SAYS IT IS HARD TO 
DEFINE THE IRAQI OPPOSITION AS ONE PERSON OR ONE ORGANIZATION.

                         //KADHIM ACT//

         WHEN YOU SAY OPPOSITION, YOU MIGHT THINK THERE IS A 
         GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE WHO COULD EXPRESS THEMSELVES. 
         THERE ARE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, THERE IS PRESS, THERE 
         IS MEDIA WHO COULD TALK. IT'S NOT LIKE THAT. IN THE 
         IRAQI SITUATION STARTING FROM THE BEGINNING FROM  
         '68-'69, THE OPPPRESSIVE REGIMES STARTED CRUSHING ALL 
         PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY ARE WITHIN THE PARTY, FROM OUTSIDE 
         THE PARTY, SAYING SOMETHING AGAINST THE REGIME OR 
         EXPRESSING AN IDEA.   AND THAT SITUATION CAUSED MORE 
         THAN THREE MILLION IRAQIS TO ESCAPE THE COUNTRY OVER THE
         PAST 30 YEARS OF THIS DICTATORSHIP.

                           //END ACT//

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT VOICES, SO MANY EXILED GROUPS THAT 
CRITICS TO COMPLAIN THE MOVEMENTS LACK COORDINATION AND AN 
EFFECTIVE POWER BASE INSIDE IRAQ.  

IRAQ ANALYST LAURIE MYLROIE SAYS TRYING TO WORK AGAINST THE 
GOVERNMENT FROM INSIDE IRAQ IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

                         //MYLROIE ACT//

         ONE CANNOT GET AROUND THAT PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE A 
         TOTALITARIAN STATE WHICH CUTS OFF AND SUPPRESSES ALL 
         INTERNAL DISSENT. WE KNOW IT'S HATED, FEARED AND 
         LOATHED. THEREFORE YOU CANNOT GET FROM WITHIN THE AREA 
         THAT SADDAM CONTROLS ANY EXPRESSION OF POLITICAL 
         OPPOSITION TO THE REGIME.

                           //END ACT//

MISS MYLROIE IS SENIOR ANALYST FOR THE FOREIGN POLICY INSTITUTE 
IN WASHINGTON.  SHE SAYS U-S SUPPORT NOW IS MOSTLY FOCUSSED ON 
THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION, THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS.

I-N-C LEADER AHMED CHALABI RECENTLY LOBBIED THE U-S CONGRESS FOR 
MORE HELP.  

                         //CHALABI ACT//

         SADDAM IS THE ARABIC PEOPLE'S PROBLEM AND WE ARE 
         PREPARED TO BEAR ANY BURDEN TO REMOVE HIM FROM POWER.  
         ALL WE ASK IS A CHANCE TO FREE OURSELVES. WE LOOK TO THE
         UNITED STATES TO GIVE US THAT CHANCE.

                           //END ACT//

THE I-N-C DID MANAGE TO SET UP A BASE OF OPERATION IN IRAQ'S 
KURDISH AUTONOMOUS ZONE.  THE NORTHERN AREA IS PROTECTED BY  
NO-FLY ZONE, WHICH WAS SET UP AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR.   BUT THE 
ARRIVAL OF IRAQI TROOPS THERE TWO YEARS AGO FORCED THE I-N-C 
MEMBERS AND SOME OF THEIR C-I-A ADVISORS TO FLEE IRAQ.

NOW THE I-N-C WANTS HELP TO SET UP A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT 
INSIDE ONE OF THE SAFE HAVENS INSIDE IRAQ WITH AMERICAN PLANES 
PROTECTING THE AREA FROM IRAQI TROOPS.    BUT OTHER IRAQI 
DISSIDENTS WARN AGAINST RELYING TOO MUCH ON THE U-S OR ANY OTHER 
GOVERNMENT FOR HELP.   THEY SAY THE STRATEGY COULD BACKFIRE IF 
CHANGING POLITICAL PRESSURES CURB THE FLOW OF AID JUST WHEN THE 
IRAQI DISSIDENTS NEED IT MOST. (SIGNED)

NEB/LMK/KL

06-Apr-98 3:53 PM EDT (1953 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.