From: Jamie McIntyre/CNN
In: Brussels, Belgium
Posted 12-1-97

Subject: Cohen Blames Hussein For Infant Deaths

U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen today blamed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for the deaths of hundreds of Iraqi children and warned a military confrontation with Iraq has been "deferred," not averted.

Cohen arrived in Brussels tonight for consultations with NATO allies about Iraq and Bosnia.

Speaking to reporters aboard his plane en route to Belgium, Cohen said, "I think the confrontation as such has eased in the last week, but it only has been deferred unless the Iraqis open up and grant unimpeded access."

Iraq continues to deny inspectors from the U.N. Special Commission full access to 63 compounds that include presidential palaces.

In Baghdad Sunday hundreds of mourners staged a funeral procession of 50 children Iraqi officials said died because of U.N. trade sanctions. Iraq claims at least 4,000 Iraqi children die every month due to lack of medicine.

But the United States points the blame at Iraq which it says is still hiding chemical and biological weapons. Cohen told reporters, "Saddam Hussein is responsible for the deaths of the children. All he has to do and has had to do [is] stop impeding the U.N. inspectors and he would not be in the situation he is in today."

Cohen said the United States favors continuing the "oil-for-food" program under which Iraq can sell $2 billion worth of oil and use its share of the proceeds for food and medicine.

But Cohen insisted Washington's willingness to continue the program was not "appeasement," so long as the program was made "more effective" in making sure aid gets to civilians and not to Iraq's military. "The focus has been upon malnourished men, women and children. We haven't seen any malnourished members of the Republican Guard," Cohen said.

While the use of military force remains a real option, Cohen emphasized the United States is not spoiling for a fight. "A decision has not been made as whether it results in a military confrontation," he said. "That's still an option, obviously, but the president [Clinton] has indicated he wants to pursue every diplomatic option; that could include sanctions, that could include other types of pressure brought to bear upon the Iraqis."

But Cohen rejected a suggestion by former White House advisor George Stephanopoulos that the U.S. should try to assassinate the Iraqi Leader. Writing in Newsweek magazine, Stephanopoulos said, "If we can kill Saddam, we should."

Cohen said, "I think we have had our own experiences with assassination which reinforces our position that's not the way in which civilized nations behave. It contravenes international standards and norms and we will not pursue it."

In Other News:

Monday Dec. 1, 1997

• Reno's Independent Counsel Decision Expected Tuesday
• Report: Defense Readiness Depends On Quick Reforms
• Former Espy Aide Convicted Of Lying

E-Mail From Washington:
• White House-Freeh Relations Worsen
• Cohen Blames Hussein For Infant Deaths
• Gore To Attend Global Warming Conference
• U.S. Pressures Israel On Settlements