Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 5, 1991 TAG: 9104050387
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From The New York Times/ and The Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
President Bush emphatically ruled out U.S. military help for the rebels fighting Saddam Hussein, saying he will not put "precious American lives into this battle."
In talks with American Ambassador Morton I. Abramowitz in Washington, the Turkish government refused the American request, saying it could not afford to permit a mass entry of refugees it believes could number 500,000 or more.
Saying Turkey did not have the resources to deal with a mass migration and would keep its borders closed, the Turks called for international relief to help them cope with the refugee onslaught they expect. In comparison, Iran said it would admit more than a million Kurds it said were on its border, and also appealed for international aid.
Iraq on Thursday did not formally respond to the U.N. Security Council resolution, approved Wednesday, that links an end to the war and the lifting of most sanctions to acceptance of tough military and financial conditions.
The United States, Great Britain, China, France and the Soviet Union agreed to contribute officers to the force of about 300 military observers the United Nations plans to deploy between Iraq and Kuwait if Baghdad accepts the resolution.
As the Kurds continued to jam roads leading to Turkey and Iran, there were reports that Iraqi soldiers were still attacking Kurds who were fleeing after forces loyal to Saddam had quelled their uprising.
The revolt came after American-led forces drove Iraq out of Kuwait and after repeated calls by Bush for the removal of Saddam, which were followed by an administration decision not to intervene in the Iraqi civil conflict.
Despite Bush's decision, the Voice of Free Iraq, an opposition radio station broadcasting from Saudi Arabia that is widely believed to have American financial support, has repeatedly appealed to the Iraqi people in recent weeks to stage an armed revolt.
Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, drew thousands of listeners when he staged an impromptu rally in one mountain village.
"It is better to die fighting rather than live as refugees in camps in Iran and Turkey. We must stay and defend our land," Barzani said.
American officials said they were not planning to provide much new money for refugee aid beyond the $36 million already pledged to international relief organizations.
Sen. Albert Gore, D-Tenn., said Thursday the policy of refusing to "risk undermining the viability of Saddam's government is a cruel irony and mistake in judgment."
An ABC-Washington Post poll released Thursday showed Americans evenly divided on whether the United States should help the rebels. Of the 769 respondents, 51 percent said the United States should not aid them, while 45 percent favored support.
by CNB