Iraq was targetted for "regime change" on 31 October 1998, when 
William J Clinton signed the Iraq Liberation Act into law:

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*EPF104 11/02/98 
TEXT: CLINTON ON SIGNING THE "IRAQ LIBERATION ACT OF 1998" 
(Backing elements advocating different future for Iraq) (920) 

Washington -- President Clinton October 31 signed into law H.R. 4655, 
the "Iraq Liberation Act of 1998." 

"This Act," the President said, "makes clear that it is the
sense of the 
Congress that the United States should support those elements of the 
Iraqi opposition that advocate a very different future for Iraq than the 
bitter reality of internal repression and external aggression that the 
current regime in Baghdad now offers. 

"Let me be clear," Clinton said, "what the U.S. objectives are: 

"The United States wants Iraq to rejoin the family of nations as a 
freedom-loving and law-abiding member. This is in our interest and that 
of our allies within the region. 

"The United States favors an Iraq that offers its people freedom at home. 
I categorically reject arguments that this is unattainable due to Iraq's 
history or its ethnic or sectarian make-up. Iraqis deserve and desire 
freedom like everyone else. 

The President said that the United States "looks forward to a 
democratically supported regime that would permit us to enter into a 
dialogue leading to the reintegration of Iraq into normal international 
life." 

Clnton noted that his Administration "has pursued, and will continue to 
pursue, these objectives through active application of all relevant United 
Nations Security Council resolutions. The evidence is overwhelming that 
such changes will not happen under the current Iraq leadership." 

The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, he said, "provides additional, 
discretionary authorities under which my Administration can act to 
further the objectives I outlined above. There are, of course, other 
important elements of U.S. policy. These include the maintenance of 
U.N. Security Council support efforts to eliminate Iraq's prohibited 
weapons and missile programs and economic sanctions that continue 
to deny the regime the means to reconstitute those threats to 
international peace and security. United States support for the Iraqi 
opposition will be carried out consistent with those policy objectives 
as well." 

Following is the White House text: 

(begin text) 

THE WHITE HOUSE 

Office of the Press Secretary 
October 31, 1998 

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT 

Today I am signing into law H.R. 4655, the "Iraq Liberation Act of 1998." 
This Act makes clear that it is the sense of the Congress that the 
United States should support those elements of the Iraqi opposition that 
advocate a very different future for Iraq than the bitter reality of 
internal repression and external aggression that the current regime in 
Baghdad now offers. 

Let me be clear on what the U.S. objectives are: 

The United States wants Iraq to rejoin the family of nations as a 
freedom-loving and law-abiding member. This is in our interest and 
that of our allies within the region. 

The United States favors an Iraq that offers its people freedom at home. 
I categorically reject arguments that this is unattainable due to Iraq's 
history or its ethnic or sectarian make-up. Iraqis deserve and desire 
freedom like everyone else. 

The United States looks forward to a democratically supported regime 
that would permit us to enter into a dialogue leading to the reintegration 
of Iraq into normal international life. 

My Administration has pursued, and will continue to pursue, these 
objectives through active application of all relevant United Nations 
Security Council resolutions. The evidence is overwhelming that such 
changes will not happen under the current Iraq leadership. 

In the meantime, while the United States continues to look to the 
Security Council's efforts to keep the current regime's behavior in 
check, we look forward to new leadership in Iraq that has the support 
of the Iraqi people. The United States is providing support to opposition 
groups from all sectors of the Iraqi community that could lead to a 
popularly supported government. 

On October 21, 1998, I signed into law the Omnibus Consolidated and 
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, which made $8 
million available for assistance to the Iraqi democratic opposition. 
This assistance is intended to help the democratic opposition unify, 
work together more effectively, and articulate the aspirations of the 
Iraqi people for a pluralistic, participatory political system that 
will include all of Iraq's diverse ethnic and religious groups. As 
required by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY 1998 
(Public Law 105-174), the Department of State submitted a report to 
the Congress on plans to establish a program to support the democratic
opposition. My Administration, as required by that statute, has also 
begun to implement a program to compile information regarding allegations 
of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes by Iraq's current 
leaders as a step towards bringing to justice those directly responsible 
for such acts. 

The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 provides additional, discretionary 
authorities under which my Administration can act to further the 
objectives I outlined above. There are, of course, other important 
elements of U.S. policy. These include the maintenance of U.N. Security 
Council support efforts to eliminate Iraq's prohibited weapons and missile 
programs and economic sanctions that continue to deny the regime the means 
to reconstitute those threats to international peace and security. United 
States support for the Iraqi opposition will be carried out consistent with 
those policy objectives as well. 

Similarly, U.S. support must be attuned to what the opposition 
can effectively make use of as it develops over time. With those 
observations, I sign H.R. 4655 into law. 

WILLIAM J. CLINTON 

THE WHITE HOUSE, 

October 31, 1998. 

(end text) 
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Source: U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Australia...
( http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/hyper/WF981102/epf104.htm )

Cheers, Steve..

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