US stops its attack against Iraq
Iraq, Politics, 12/19/1998

The US announced that it has stopped its attacks against Iraq.

US President Bill Clinton this evening said that the US achieved its goal and will stop its military attacks on Iraq that started four days ago. Clinton said that the US will be working to promote a new government in Iraq that "we hope to return Iraq to its rightful place amongst the nations of the world."

US Secretary of Defense William Cohen said the US has achieved its objectives and had targeted 100 targets in Iraq. He said "our goal was to weaken Iraq's military power." Earlier in the day, Cohen said that the damage as a result of the US attack on Iraq "is substantial" but that the results will not be clear for some time. He said that the US attacks delayed Iraq's efforts by one year from development of weapons of mass destruction and threatening its neighbors, as a result of striking military and industrial targets.

Cohen said that the US will keep its forces in the Gulf, and will continue its containment policy.

Cohen expressed care for the people of Iraq and for Iraq's long history.

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair, who Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz yesterday labeled as the "rat" that follows the "elephant" (USA), said today that should Iraq "once again act in defiance of the international community... he (Iraq's president) should be in no doubt that we will act again."

Previous Stories:
  US pressure on Damascus Declaration states concerning Iraq   (12/19/1998)
  US called upon Tehran not to interfere in events taking place in Iraq   (12/19/1998)
  Moussa hopes to contain Iraqi situation - regional reaction   (12/19/1998)
  Iraq: Life goes on   (12/19/1998)
  Aziz: Attacks are criminal   (12/18/1998)
  UNSCOM's return to Iraq after attacks uncertain   (12/17/1998)
  Iraq slams US attacks and questions significance of violations   (12/17/1998)
  The US and UK strike against Iraq   (12/17/1998)
  The US attacks Iraq   (12/16/1998)

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