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Blanchard

Clinton hands off Iraqi opposition plan to Bush

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, January 16, 2001

WASHINGTON Ñ President Bill Clinton has handed his successor a plan to bolster the Iraqi opposition to Saddam Hussein.

After years of delay, the Clinton administration has approved a plan that will provide more resources to the Iraqi National Congress. The plan is meant to reestablish INC presence in Iraq.

Under the plan, submitted to Congress, the INC would distribute food and other relief supplies in northern and southern Iraq and other areas not under Saddam's control. The INC would establish relief offices as well as radio and television stations.

The INC effort would be supported from neighboring Iran, officials said. The project would include $12 million for humanitarian relief and $6 million for the propaganda campaign.

So far, the Clinton administration has spent only $2 million of $97 million authorized by Congress in 1998. The White House has refused to provide military training or weapons to the INC.

The London-based INC views the administration decision as the first step towards U.S. support for military operations against the Saddam regime. But the Clinton report leaves that option to the incoming administration of President-elect George W. Bush.

"Beyond such improvement of the INC's own abilities to protect its people and others inside Iraq, the administration and Congress will need to consider what forms of direct protection, if any, the U.S. should provide," the report said.

Last week, Bush was briefed at the White House on the Iraq issue. It was not clear whether Clinton discussed the new aid to the INC, but Bush aides said the incoming administration welcomes increased support to the opposition to Saddam.

A key concern is the extent of U.S. support required to protect renewed INC operations in Iraq. Administration officials said Saddam will try to stop opposition activities as he did in 1996 when Iraqi troops overran the north.

Tuesday, January 16, 2001


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