DATE=2/20/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39037
TITLE=IRAQ / AIR WAR
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IF THE UNITED STATES LAUNCHES AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ,
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL TRY TO DESTROY SADDAM HUSSEIN'S
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. MILITARY EXPERTS SAY THAT WILL BE A
DIFFICULT TASK. V-O-A PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT JIM RANDLE SPOKE TO
SEVERAL MILITARY STRATEGISTS -- WHO SAY THE FIRST PRIORITY WILL
BE TO USE ATTACK PLANES TO BLIND AND DISABLE IRAQ'S AIR DEFENSES.
TEXT: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS ANY AIR STRIKES
WILL BE DESIGNED TO RID IRAQ OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS
AND THE MISSILES NEEDED TO DELIVER THEM. MR. COHEN AND OTHER
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY REALIZE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CAN BE
STORED IN VERY SMALL PACKAGES AND HIDDEN NEARLY ANYWHERE. STILL,
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT EXPECTS TO SHARPLY REDUCE THE
NUMBER OF WEAPONS AND THE FACILITIES NEEDED TO MAKE NEW ONES.
A SENIOR U-S DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS IRAQ TOOK A SEVERE BEATING
DURING THE GULF WAR, BUT STILL HAS THOUSANDS OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT
CANNON AND A LARGE NUMBER OF ANTI-AIRCRAFT MISSILES. THE
OFFICIAL ALSO SAYS IRAQ HAS BEEN WORKING HARD TO REBUILD ITS AIR
DEFENSES, PARTICULARLY RADARS THAT COULD TELL IRAQI SOLDIERS
WHERE U-S PLANES ARE.
RETIRED ADMIRAL EUGENE CARROLL PREDICTS U-S FORCES WILL FIRST TRY
TO DESTROY OR CONFUSE IRAQI RADARS.
/// CARROLL ACT ///
THEY WILL TRY TO BLIND THEIR AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM WITH
BOMBS AND ELECTRONIC COUNTERMEASURES. THEY WILL TRY TO
DESTROY THE MISSILE LAUNCHING SITES, AND AIR FIELDS THAT
SUPPORT AIR DEFENSE AND CREATE A TOTAL DOMINANCE OF THE
AIR SPACE OVER IRAQ, FOR THE SUBSEQUENT ATTACKS.
/// END ACT ///
ADMIRAL CARROLL SPEAKS FOR THE CENTER FOR DEFENSE INFORMATION, A
PRIVATE GROUP THAT STUDIES MILITARY ISSUES AND IS OFTEN CRITICAL
OF THE PENTAGON.
HE SAYS SUBSEQUENT ATTACKS WILL LIKELY FALL ON THE PLACES SADDAM
HUSSEIN CLOSED TO U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS, AND THEN ON THE COMMAND
AND CONTROL BUNKERS AND COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES THAT ALLOW HIM
TO GIVE ORDERS TO HIS MILITARY. ADMIRAL CARROLL SAYS LATER
ATTACKS WOULD FOCUS ON DIRECT MILITARY TARGETS, PARTICULARLY
THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELITE REPUBLICAN GUARD.
ANOTHER MILITARY EXPERT, ANTHONY CORDESMAN, SAYS SADDAM HUSSEIN'S
MANY PALACES MAY ALSO BE TARGETS.
/// CORDESMAN ACT ///
THERE WILL BE STRIKES ON THINGS LIKE HIS PRESIDENTIAL
PALACES TO MAKE A VERY CLEAR POINT THAT SADDAM HIMSELF
AND THE SYMBOLS OF HIS POWER ARE NOT IMMUNE.
/// END ACT ///
MR. CORDESMAN WORKS FOR THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, A PRIVATE GROUP THAT RESEARCHES PUBLIC
POLICY ISSUES. HE SAYS BOMBS MAY ALSO FALL ON GROUPS THAT
INTERFERE WITH UNSCOM'S OPERATIONS, LIKE THE SPECIAL SECURITY
SERVICES. MR. CORDESMAN SAYS THESE OPERATIVES ARE MOVING INTO
THE GENERAL POPULATION TO HIDE, BUT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE
THEIR BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT WITH THEM.
MR. CORDESMAN SUGGESTS A U-S MILITARY OPERATION WILL PROBABLY
BEGIN WITH INTENSE, MISSILE STRIKES AT NIGHT AND CONTINUE FOR
SEVERAL DAYS WITH THREE OR FOUR HUNDRED BOMBING FLIGHTS PER DAY.
MR. CORDESMAN SAYS BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ARE EASY TO HIDE, SO EVEN
AN INTENSE, SKILLFULLY EXECUTED CAMPAIGN MAY LEAVE BEHIND ENOUGH
ANTHRAX OR OTHER GERM AGENTS FOR POSSIBLE TERRORIST OR MILITARY
OPERATIONS BY IRAQ.
ADMIRAL CARROLL AGREES. HE SAYS SAYS HE SEES "NO PROSPECT
WHATEVER" THAT U-S MILITARY ATTACKS WOULD MEET THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION'S OBJECTIVE: TO DENY SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF
WEAPONS TO SADDAM HUSSEIN.(SIGNED).
/NEB/JR/JO
20-Feb-98 11:39 AM EST (1639 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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