DATE=12/17/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243175 TITLE=U-S IRAQ ATTACKS - HOLDING SPOT (L) BYLINE=JIM RANDLE DATELINE=PENTAGON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY A SECOND NIGHT OF ATTACKS IS TAKING PLACE AGAINST IRAQ, INCLUDING BOTH BRITISH AND AMERICAN AIRCRAFT. TOP U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRST NIGHT OF ATTACKS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED SOME KEY INTELLIGENCE AND DEFENSE TARGETS. IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY THE ATTACKS KILLED AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE AND INJURED DOZENS MORE. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON WHERE OFFICIALS ARE EXAMINING AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER INTELLIGENCE TO ASSESS THE ATTACKS. TEXT: MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THE FIRST TARGETS OF THE AIR ATTACKS WERE ANTI-AIRCRAFT RADARS AND WEAPONS. ONCE THE IRAQI AIR DEFENSES ARE SILENCED, OFFICIALS SAY U-S AND BRITISH PLANES WILL BE ABLE TO STRIKE OTHER TARGETS IN RELATIVE SAFETY. A SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS THERE ARE STILL AIR DEFENSE TARGETS TO HIT. DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE MAIN TARGET OF THE CAMPAIGN IS IRAQ'S PROGRAM TO PRODUCE NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS, AND THE MISSILES THAT COULD DELIVER THEM. MR. COHEN WILL NOT SAY HOW LONG THE CAMPAIGN WILL CONTINUE. IN A V-O-A INTERVIEW, THE COMMANDER OF THE PLANES BASED ON THE U-S CARRIER ENTERPRISE, CAPTAIN TOM HAGEN, SAYS THE CAMPAIGN CAN GO ON FOR QUITE A WHILE. /// HAGEN /// WE ARE PREPARED TO SUSTAIN THIS AS LONG AS WE ARE TASKED TO DO IT. /// END ACT /// NAVY CAPTAIN HAGAN SAYS THE FIRST NIGHT OF RAIDS WENT WELL FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE. IRAQ SAYS THE RAIDS STRUCK SOME CIVILIANS. PRESIDENT CLINTON CALLS THE DEATHS AND INJURIES REGRETTABLE, BUT UNAVOIDABLE. /// CLINTON ACT /// WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO CAREFULLY TARGET MILITARY AND NATIONAL SECURITY TARGETS, AND TO MINIMIZE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. /// END ACT /// PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS IRAQ'S CONTINUED REFUSAL TO FULLY COOPERATE WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS MADE THE ATTACKS NECESSARY. OVERNIGHT PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS SAY MOST AMERICANS SUPPORT THE ATTACKS. MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE DIVIDED. SOME QUESTION WHETHER THE TIMING OF THE ATTACK ON IRAQ MIGHT HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE PENDING CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE ON THE IMPEACHMENT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON. DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN SAYS MILITARY CONSIDERATIONS, NOT POLITICAL MANEUVERING, DROVE THE DECISION TO STRIKE IRAQ. (SIGNED) NEB/JR/GE 17-Dec-98 12:40 PM EST (1740 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
