the great debate~hussein v bush, page-7

Saddam challenges Bush to TV debate
By Niko Price, AP
25 February 2003


Saddam Hussein has indicated that he does not intend to follow UN orders to destroy his Al-Samoud 2 missiles, and challenged President George Bush to an internationally televised debate via satellite linkup.

In a three-hour interview with CBS television, the Iraqi leader said he envisioned a live debate with Bush along the lines of those in a US presidential campaign, according to the network.

"I am ready," said the Iraqi president, "to conduct a direct dialogue -a debate- with your president. I will say what I want and he will say what he wants."

CBS said it planned to broadcast excerpts of the interview with Dan Rather, the CBS anchor, today and the entire interview on tomorrow.

Referring to chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix's order that Iraq destroy its Al-Samoud 2 missiles, CBS quoted Saddam as saying: "Iraq is allowed to prepare proper missiles and we are committed to that."

Asked whether the Al-Samoud 2 missiles are "proper," Saddam replied: "We do not have missiles that go beyond the proscribed range.

The order was issued after international experts determined that the missile flew further than the 93-mile limit set down by the United Nations in 1991. Iraq maintains some of the missiles overshot the limit because they were tested without warheads and guidance systems.

"This is not a serious issue," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said of the reported debate offer. "There is no debating his need to disarm."

Mr Fleischer said Saddam's comments about the Al-Samouds represented "open defiance" of the United Nations. "He refuses even to acknowledge that the weapons are prohibited," he said.

Iraq has until the end of the week to begin destroying the missiles, components and other related systems.

Meanwhile in Kuwait, a US Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a night training mission, killing all four crew members.

The crash occurred about 1am (2200 GMT Monday) near the military's Camp New Jersey about 30 miles north-west of Kuwait City, an Army statement said.

The aircraft, which belonged to the Army's V Corps, was part of the force that has been massed in this Gulf emirate for a possible invasion of Iraq.

The crew members were the only personnel on board, the Army said.