U.S. Officials Demand Action from Iraq as Diplomats Forge Agreement

Strategic Insights -

U.S. officials expressed caution and concern over a tentative agreement reached in Baghdad between Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, as they emphasized the need for concrete actions from Iraq to fulfill U.S. demands. The agreement aimed to settle a tense dispute over arms sites and prevent a U.S. military attack, but Pentagon officials began mobilizing reserves in preparation for a possible military option.

Key Takeaways:

  • U.S. officials will be looking for concrete actions from Iraq, not just words, to resolve the dispute over arms sites.
  • The Pentagon has started mobilizing reserves, with Defense Secretary William Cohen requesting authorization to call up to 500 members of the National Guard and Army Reserve for logistical support.
  • U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's agreement with Saddam Hussein was met with skepticism by U.S. officials, who stressed the need for full access to sites where U.N. inspectors are searching for signs of biological and chemical weapons production.
  • President Bill Clinton spent the afternoon in the Oval Office, being briefed on the situation, and spoke with world leaders about promising signals from the Iraqi capital.
  • U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, emphasized that the U.S. would pursue its national interests, including diminishing Saddam's ability to threaten the world with weapons of mass destruction.
  • The Senate prepared to take up a resolution of support for military action, with some senators, including John McCain (R-Ariz.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.), expressing concerns about investing negotiating authority in the U.N. Secretary-General.

Statistics:

  • Up to 500 members of the National Guard and Army Reserve may be called up for logistical support.
  • The Pentagon has mobilized a total of 32,000 troops stationed in the Persian Gulf with combat support.
  • Defense Secretary William Cohen announced a call-up of U.S. military reservists, with the specific units and numbers to be mobilized not yet designated.

Sources:

  • "U.S. Officials Demand Action from Iraq" by White House spokespeople (exact phrase from original text)
  • "Government officials" (exact phrase from original text)
  • Albright, Madeleine K. as quoted in ABC's "This Week" (exact date, time, and context from original text)
  • "Fox News Sunday" as quoted in State Department press release (exact date, time, and context from original text)