Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 28, 1993 TAG: 9306280058
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RUTH SINAI ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Clinton aides said his order for a missile strike on the headquarters of Iraqi intelligence was dictated by the pace of the U.S. investigation into the alleged plot against former President Bush - and not by last week's arrests of eight suspects in a horrifying scheme to bomb several of New York City's major landmarks.
Nonetheless, the president's advisers linked the two.
"We sent two strong messages," said Secretary of State Warren Christopher.
"The message that we sent to Saddam Hussein was a good strong message. And the message the FBI sent in New York with the arrests was another indication that the United States was going to stand strong against terrorism wherever we see it," Christopher said Sunday on ABC-TV.
Another aide, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, said the administration's response was "intended as a message to both Saddam [Hussein] and other sponsors of state terrorism - that there's a price to pay."
The administration says it does not have evidence that a foreign country was behind the New York bombing plot or the February attack on the World Trade Center. But authorities are investigating whether any of the suspects, all religious Muslims, have any links to Iran or Sudan, both governed by strict Muslim rulers and laws.
The United States considers Iran the world's foremost state sponsor of terrorism, and is also closely monitoring its growing links with the military rulers of Sudan. U.S. officials say Sudan, the homeland of five of the eight arrested last week, is host to several virulent Iranian-backed terror groups.
Counterterrorism officials had been eagerly waiting to see whether Clinton would respond to Iraq's alleged attempt to kill Bush during his April visit to Kuwait - viewing it as a signal of his resolve to fight terrorism.
Many, especially in the Pentagon, had voiced doubts privately about whether Clinton - focused on domestic policies, inexperienced in defense-related matters and seemingly indecisive in some foreign policy areas - might respond to provocation with delay.
But Clinton's aides warned him that if the evidence against Iraq was compelling and he failed to respond, he would - in the words of one official - be sending "a powerful message that he [Saddam] has a blank check" to attack Americans.
Bush was not the first American to be targeted for Iraqi terrorism. On the eve of the U.S.-led war to evict Iraq from Kuwait, the FBI foiled several planned terror attacks in the United States - partly by expelling Iraqi diplomats.
But Saddam was obviously not deterred. A CIA study last year predicted that given the opportunity, he would try to exact revenge on Bush. And U.S. officials say he might try to retaliate for Clinton's missile attack through terrorism.
"Saddam Hussein, for all his evil-mindedness, does not have the power to inflict damage on the continental United States except through terrorism," said Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
That threat has become more real for Americans than ever since the bombing at the World Trade Center made clear to they were no longer immune, even at home.
"We can get you any time," in the words of Siddiq Ali, one of the masterminds behind the foiled plot in New York.
To which President Clinton responded, in his Saturday night address to the nation:
"We will combat terrorism. We will deter aggression. We will protect our people."
by CNB