Reuters
March 2, 1998
Washington - House Speaker Newt Gingrich Saturday called for the United States to veto any U.N. resolution on Iraq that failed to include an automatic trigger for military action if Baghdad reneges on arms inspections. The Georgia Republican lambasted France and Russia for their opposition to a Security Council resolution that would allow the United States to subject Iraq to "very severe consequences" if it breaks an agreement brokered by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. "We cannot allow France, Russia, or any other country to dilute our legitimate efforts in their cynical attempt to gain commercial or diplomatic advantage with the Iraqi regime," he said in a written statement.
Gingrich said the Clinton administration must insist any Iraqi failure to fulfill its commitments to give U.N. weapons inspectors unrestricted access would result in "massive military force" being directed against President Saddam Hussein's regime. "A weak Security Council resolution would be a victory for the Iraqi regime and would seriously damage the credibility of the United States," he said. "The United States should be prepared to exercise our veto in order to prevent such an outcome."
Britain formally submitted a draft Security Council resolution late Friday, warning Iraq of "very severe consequences" if it repudiated the deal it made with Annan. The document changed the warning to Iraq from "the severest consequences" to "very severe consequences" a slight softening of language should Iraq violate its promise to allow U.N. arms inspectors to search all sites for weapons of mass destruction and related materials.
No vote has been scheduled, although Britain and its co-sponsor, Japan, would like adoption Monday. But action could be delayed, depending on instructions council members receive from their respective capitals over the weekend. The new text, like earlier versions, did not say that the Security Concil has to take another decision in determining a violation by Iraq or authorizing the use of force.
France, Russia, China and Brazil have said the document needed to make clear that the use of force against Baghdad would not be automatic, but would require another council decision. President Clinton cautiously endorsed the agreement reached by Annan in Baghdad last Sunday, saying it needed to be clarified and tested. In the meantime, the United States is pressing ahead with its military buildup in the Gulf region.
