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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release December 16, 1998

STATEMENT BY PRESS SECRETARY JOE LOCKHART

The Briefing Room

5:10 P.M. EST

MR. LOCKHART: Good afternoon. At the direction of the President, United States military forces have launched a substantial military strike against Iraq. The President decided to take this action this morning, after reviewing the conclusions of the report to the United Nations Secretary General and Security Council yesterday by UNSCOM Chairman Richard Butler, and discussing the situation with his foreign policy team here at the White House.

I expect the President to address the nation from the Oval Office within the hour. Following the President's address there will be briefings by the President's senior advisors -- first at the Pentagon with Secretary Cohen and General Shelton, then at the State Department with Secretary Albright and, finally, here at the White House with National Security Advisor Samuel Berger.

Thank you.

END 5:11P.M. EST