DATE= 11/4/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222174
TITLE=IRAQ'S MILITARY (REVISED)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BAGHDAD IS THREATENING TO SHOOT DOWN AMERICAN SPY PLANES
THAT FLY OVER IRAQ AS PART OF THE U-N SEARCH FOR WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION. PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE NEXT U-2 FLIGHT IS
SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, AND THEY TAKE THE IRAQI THREAT SERIOUSLY.
FROM THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE HAS A LOOK AT
IRAQ'S MILITARY CAPABILITY.
TEXT: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY THE U-2'S -- WHICH ARE ARMED ONLY
WITH CAMERAS -- FLY 18-THOUSAND METERS OR MORE ABOVE THE
GROUND. EIGHTEEN THOUSAND METERS IS JUST ABOUT AS HIGH AS IRAQI
S-A-2 ANTI AIRCRAFT MISSILES CAN REACH, SO OFFICIALS HERE SAY IT
IS POSSIBLE, BUT DIFFICULT, FOR IRAQ TO HIT ONE OF THE
HIGH-FLYING PLANES.
IRAQ IS THOUGHT TO STILL HAVE A VARIETY OF FRENCH AND SOVIET-MADE
ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES, AND ABOUT SIX-THOUSAND ANTI-AIRCRAFT
CANNON.
IRAQ'S AIR FORCE HAS ABOUT 150 HELICOPTERS AND 180 FIGHTER
PLANES, BUT A NEW REPORT BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR
STRATEGIC STUDIES SAYS ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THOSE AIRCRAFT ARE
READY TO FLY AND FIGHT.
FORMER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, LAWRENCE KORB SAYS IRAQ'S
AIR FORCE IS NOT VERY EFFECTIVE.
/// KORB ACT 015 ///
I THINK YOU WOULD BE IN MUCH MORE DANGER FROM THE IRAQI
ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE AND IRAQI SURFACE TO AIR MISSILES,
THAN YOU WOULD THEIR PLANES. THEIR PLANES ARE OLD, THEIR
PILOTS ARE NOT VERY COMBAT-HARDENED, AND IF WE SEND IN
OUR HIGH PERFORMANCE PLANES, I THINK THEY WOULD WIN THE
DAY.
/// END ACT //
EVEN AFTER ITS HUGE LOSSES IN THE GULF WAR, IRAQ STILL HAS
SUBSTANTIAL MILITARY FORCES. ONLY A MINORITY OF IRAQ'S MILITARY
IS DEDICATED TO AIR DEFENSE.
THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES SAYS IRAQ HAS
MORE THAN 387-THOUSAND PEOPLE ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY AND MORE IN
RESERVE. THE JUST-PUBLISHED JOURNAL SAYS THE NATION STILL HAS
27-HUNDRED TANKS, THOUSANDS MORE ASSORTED ARMORED VEHICLES AND
ABOUT 2-THOUSAND PIECES OF ARTILLERY.
MR. KORB OF WASHINGTON'S PRESTIGIOUS "BROOKING INSTITUTION" SAYS
SADDAM HUSSEIN'S ELITE "REPUBLICAN GUARD" GROUND UNITS ARE STILL
REASONABLY COMBAT-READY, BUT HE QUESTIONS THEIR WILL TO FIGHT.
BUT MR KORB SAYS SADDAM HUSSEIN IS WAGING A POLITICAL BATTLE MORE
THAN A MILITARY ONE, WITH THE GOAL OF SPLITTING THE UNITED STATES
FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS.
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN SAYS IT WON'T WORK.
/// COHEN ACT 082 ///
I THINK, HOPE ON THE PART OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, SPRINGS
ETERNAL, THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO DIVIDE THE UNITED
NATIONS ON THIS ISSUE. THE UNITED NATIONS IS UNITED AND
REMAINS UNITED THAT HE MUST FULLY COMPLY, WITH THE
SANCTIONS AND ALLOW INSPECTION TO GO FORWARD.
/// END ACT ///
U-S OFFICIALS SAY A BIT OVER TWO-HUNDRED U-S PLANES AND
HELICOPTERS ARE LOCATED ON SHIPS OR BASES CLOSE ENOUGH TO STRIKE
DEEP INTO IRAQ. AND THEY NOTE NAVY SHIPS AND AIR FORCE HEAVY
BOMBERS CAN LAUNCH CRUISE MISSILES TO STRIKE TARGETS ANYWHERE IN
IRAQ. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/EH
04-Nov-97 4:34 PM EST (2134 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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