DATE=1/28/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-209349
TITLE=PENTAGON - IRAQ (S)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A SENIOR U-S MILITARY OFFICIAL SAYS IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN CONTINUES TO REBUILD HIS ARMED FORCES WITH SMUGGLED SPARE PARTS AND EQUIPMENT. AND HE SAYS IRAQ IS CAPABLE OF EASILY OVER-RUNNING KUWAIT AGAIN IF AN ATTACK WAS WELL-PLANNED. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: THE SENIOR OFFICIAL SAYS SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS NEVER STOPPED CONSIDERING ANOTHER INVASION OF KUWAIT. AND HE SAYS IRAQ COULD RETAKE KUWAIT WITH A SINGLE DIVISION OF TROOPS IN ONE NIGHT -- PROVIDED HE MOVED WHEN THERE WERE NO U-S GROUND FORCES IN THE AREA.
IN A BLUNT ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION IN THE GULF, THE SENIOR OFFICIAL -- WHO REQUESTED ANONYMITY -- SAID TRAINING EXERCISES BY IRAQI GROUND TROOPS HAVE INCREASED OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
HE SAID SMUGGLING OF SPARE PARTS HAS ALLOWED THE IRAQI AIR FORCE TO RUN AS MANY AS 100 TRAINING FLIGHTS PER NIGHT, AND THAT TWO IRAQI JETS BRIEFLY PENETRATED THE EXPANDED NO-FLY ZONE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
THE SENIOR OFFICIAL SAID HE WAS NOT SAYING A NEW INVASION IS IMMINENT BUT THAT U-S PLANNERS HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THE POSSIBILITY. HE ALSO SAID SADDAM HUSSEIN SEEMS IN NO RISK OF LOSING CONTROL DESPITE THE ATTACK AGAINST HIS SON IN BAGHDAD LAST MONTH.
THE OFFICIAL SAID UDAY HUSSEIN IS SEMI-PARALYZED WITH ONE OR TWO BULLETS LODGED IN HIS SPINE, AND COULD LOSE A LEG TO GANGRENE. HE SAID U-S OFFICIALS HAVE LEARNED FROM A GOOD SOURCE THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S WIFE HAS BEEN PUT UNDER HOUSE ARREST FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/GKT/LWM
28-Jan-97 6:22 PM EST (2322 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
