DATE= 11/18/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222885
TITLE=U-S/IRAQ MILITARY BUILDUP (L)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY IRAQ'S AIR DEFENSES ARE ON THE
HIGHEST STATE OF ALERT AND THAT PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS BEEN
EXTREMELY ACTIVE IN MOVING AROUND SURFACE TO AIR MISSILE
BATTERIES. THE UNITED STATES IS SENDING MORE AIR POWER TO THE
GULF IN RESPONSE TO WHAT THE PENTAGON CALLS AN INCREASINGLY
THREATENING SITUATION FOR ALLIED PILOTS ENFORCING IRAQ'S NO FLY
ZONES. MORE FROM V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE AT THE
PENTAGON.
TEXT: ADDING TO AN ALREADY GROWING U-S MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE
GULF WILL SOON BE MORE F-117 STEALTH FIGHTER JETS AND LONG RANGE
B-52 BOMBERS. DURING THE GULF WAR SIX YEARS AGO, THE
RADAR-EVADING F-117 BECAME THE ONLY WARPLANE TO BOMB STRATEGIC
TARGETS IN BAGHDAD WITHOUT BEING HIT BY ENEMY FIRE.
IN ALL, AS MANY AS 45 ADDITIONAL U-S MILITARY PLANES COULD BE
SENT TO THE REGION IF THE COMMANDER OF U-S FORCES IN THE MIDDLE
EAST DEEMS IT NECESSARY.
// OPT // THE ADDED AIR POWER WOULD PUSH TO MORE THAN 300 THE
NUMBER OF U-S MILITARY AIRCRAFT IN THE GULF REGION AND WOULD
ALLOW THE UNITED STATES TO HIT IRAQ HARD -- AND FOR A SUSTAINED
PERIOD OF TIME -- IF PRESIDENT CLINTON OR THE UNITED NATIONS
ORDERS SUCH STRIKES. ANOTHER U-S AIRCRAFT CARRIER BATTLE GROUP
SHOULD BE IN THE GULF IN A FEW DAYS AS WELL, WHERE IT WILL JOIN
THE U-S-S NIMITZ. // END OPT //
PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS THE DECISION TO INCREASE U-S
AIR ASSETS IS LARGELY IN RESPONSE TO STEPPED-UP ACTIVITY BY
IRAQ'S SURFACE TO AIR MISSILES, ESPECIALLY IN AND AROUND THE
COUNTRY'S SOUTHERN NO FLY ZONE.
/// BACON ACT ///
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS EXTREMELY ACTIVE ACTIVITY BY HIS
(SADDAM HUSSEIN'S) AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM. THE AIR DEFENSE
SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY ON A HIGHER STATE OF ALERT TODAY THAN
IT WAS BEFORE HE INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990.
/// END ACT ///
U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS BELIEVE SOME OF THIS MOVEMENT IS DEFENSIVE,
DESIGNED TO PROTECT MISSILES FROM A FEARED U-S ATTACK. BUT
SPOKESMAN BACON ALSO SUGGESTED IRAQ MAY BE TRYING TO SET A TRAP
FOR ALLIED AIRCRAFT.
/// SECOND OPT ACT ///
GIVEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN, THE ACTIVE REDEPLOYMENT OF HIS
AIR DEFENSES, THE HIGH STATE OF ALERT, WE THINK THAT HE
(SADDAM) IS INTERESTED IN MUCH MORE THAN DIPLOMACY, THAT
HE HAS ULTERIOR MOTIVES TO MOVING THESE AROUND AND WE
NEED TO BE PREPARED. SO WE ARE FOLLOWING AGGRESSIVELY,
AGGRESSIVELY WITH DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THIS
PROBLEM.
/// END ACT ///
WHEN IRAQ MOVED ITS MISSILES FOUR YEARS AGO, IT PROMPTED A
MILITARY STRIKE BY THE UNITED STATES, SOMETHING THE PENTAGON
AGAIN REFUSES TO RULE OUT. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/PT
18-Nov-97 5:54 PM EST (2254 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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