DATE=2/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227120
TITLE=KUWAIT/PATRIOT MISSILES (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=KUWAIT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AS THE WORLD WATCHES DEVELOPMENTS IN BAGHDAD, WHERE THE
U-N SECRETARY GENERAL IS SEEKING A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE IRAQ
CRISIS, THE MILITARY BUILDUP CONTINUES. CORRESPONDENT GIL BUTLER
IS IN KUWAIT CITY AND HAS VISITED A PATRIOT MISSILE SITE
45-KILOMETERS FROM THE CENTER OF THE CAPITAL.
TEXT: IF AIR STRIKES ARE ORDERED AGAINST IRAQI SITES, AND IN
CASE SADDAM HUSSEIN TAKES SOME KIND OF RETALIATORY ACTION,
PATRIOT MISSILE BATTERIES HAVE BEEN PLACED AROUND KUWAIT TO GUARD
AGAINST AN ATTACK BY SCUD MISSILES.
IN THE WINDY DESERT NORTHWEST OF KUWAIT CITY, "ECHO BATTERY" HAS
DEPLOYED SEVEN OF ITS EIGHT PATRIOT MISSILE LAUNCHERS.
BATTERY COMMANDER CAPTAIN KELLY SPILLANE INSISTS, AT THIS POINT,
THE PATRIOTS ARE IN KUWAIT FOR A TRAINING EXERCISE. BUT IT IS
OBVIOUS THE MISSILE DEFENSES WERE DEPLOYED AS THE CRISIS WITH
IRAQ ESCALATED.
PATRIOT MISSILES INTERCEPTED SCUD MISSILES FIRED BY IRAQ IN THE
GULF WAR OF 1991. LIEUTENANT DAVID BULLARD SAYS SINCE THEN THE
PATRIOTS HAVE BEEN IMPROVED.
/// BULLARD ACT ///
ONE THING I COULD SAY IS THAT THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE PATRIOT SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW AND THE PATRIOT
SYSTEM OF 1991 IN THE GULF WAR. THERE HAVE BEEN A
NUMBER OF UPGRADES AND ADVANCEMENTS IN THE SYSTEM AND
BASICALLY, THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY -- THIS ENTIRE
SYSTEM, IT IS LIKE A BRAND NEW SYSTEM NOW.
/// END ACT ///
LIEUTENANT BULLARD EXPLAINS ONE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS. HE SAYS
DURING THE GULF WAR PATRIOTS SOMETIMES CHASED DOWN SCUD MISSILES
TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND. HE SAYS NOW THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN.
/// BULLARD ACT ///
IF A SCUD MISSILE IS IN FLIGHT AND GETS TOO LOW, A
PATRIOT MISSILE WILL NOT LAUNCH AND CHASE THAT SCUD
MISSILE DOWN INTO THE GROUND OR INTO A BUILDING OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WITH THIS URBAN UPTURN SYSTEM WHAT
WILL HAPPEN IS THAT THE PATRIOT MISSILE WILL UPTURN INTO
THE ATMOSPHERE, GO AS FAR AS IT CAN AND THEN DETONATE SO
YOU DO NOT HAVE TWO WAR HEADS DETONATING YOU WILL HAVE
JUST ONE. THAT IS ASSUMING THE SCUD GETS BY US.
/// END ACT ///
IT IS NOT AT ALL CERTAIN THE IRAQ POSSESSES THE ABILITY TO LAUNCH
SIGNIFICANT MISSILE ATTACKS. BUT THE AMERICAN PATRIOT MISSILE
BATTERIES CAN SWING INTO ACTION IN MINUTES IF THEY ARE NEEDED.
(SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/DW/RAE
22-Feb-98 10:46 AM EST (1546 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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