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DATE=  10/9/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-221061
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ NO-FLY ZONE (L)
BYLINE=JIM MALONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN WARNED IRAQ THURSDAY
THAT ITS PILOTS WILL BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES IF THEY CONTINUE TO 
TEST THE NO-FLY ZONE IN SOUTHERN IRAQ PATROLLED BY THE UNITED 
STATES, BRITAIN AND FRANCE.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE HAS A
REPORT.
TEXT:  SECRETARY COHEN TOLD REPORTERS THAT IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM
HUSSEIN SEEMS INTENT ON TESTING THE NO-FLY ZONE. BUT MR. COHEN 
SAYS ANY CHALLENGE OF THE NO-FLY ZONE WILL POSE A RISK TO 
SADDAM'S PILOTS, ADDING THAT IF THEY MAKE A MISTAKE, THEY WILL 
HAVE TO BEAR THE CONSEQUENCES.
AT A BRIEFING LATER ON, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAID THE 
UNITED STATES HAS BEEFED UP ITS PATROLS INSIDE THE NO-FLY ZONE 
AND THAT U-S PLANES ARE NOW FLYING FURTHER NORTH CLOSER TO THE 
33RD PARALLEL. HE ALSO SAID THAT A BATTLE GROUP LED BY THE 
AIRCRAFT CARRIER U-S-S NIMITZ WOULD ARRIVE IN THE REGION THIS 
WEEKEND.   
                       /// BACON ACT. ///
         I THINK WE HAVE SHOWN IN THE PAST THAT WE ARE PREPARED 
         TO PROTECT OUR INTERESTS AND TO ENFORCE THE NO-FLY ZONE.
         WE HAVE USED A VARIETY OF MILITARY ASSETS TO DO THAT. 
         AND I WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
                        /// END ACT. ///
ON TUESDAY, THE UNITED STATES ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS STEPPING UP 
ITS AIR PATROLS IN THE NO FLY-ZONE IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL IRAQI 
VIOLATIONS. U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS SPEAKING ON BACKGROUND SAID TWO
IRAQI FIGHTERS ENTERED THE NO-FLY ZONE ON TUESDAY WITHOUT DRAWING
FIRE FROM ALLIED PLANES. THE NO-FLY ZONE WAS ESTABLISHED OVER 
SOUTHERN IRAQ AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR.
/// OPT /// PENTAGON SPOKESMAN BACON SAYS U-S FORCES IN THE AREA 
ARE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH WHATEVER CHALLENGES SADDAM HUSSEIN MAY 
THROW THEIR WAY. 
                       /// BACON ACT. ///
         THERE ARE A WHOLE SERIES OF THINGS THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN 
         HAS REFUSED TO DO. ALL OF WHICH WHEN ADDED TOGETHER, 
         EVEN BEFORE YOU GET TO THINGS LIKE SURGICAL NO-FLY ZONE 
         VIOLATIONS, SUGGEST THAT HE BEARS CONTINUED WATCHING AND
         THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN 
         DOING SINCE THE END OF THE GULF WAR AND WE WILL CONTINUE
         TO DO THAT.
                        /// END ACT. ///
                         /// END OPT ///
LAST WEEK, THE UNITED STATES ANNOUNCED IT WAS MOVING UP THE 
ARRIVAL OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER NIMITZ AS A SIGNAL THAT IT WAS 
SERIOUS ABOUT ENFORCING THE IRAQI NO-FLY ZONES. (SIGNED)
NEB/JBM/KL
09-Oct-97 3:31 PM EDT (1931 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.