DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243188
TITLE=IRAQ ATTACK SITREP (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE TOP U-S GENERAL, HUGH SHELTON, SAYS AMERICAN AND
BRITISH WARPLANES ARE STRIKING IRAQ FOR A SECOND-NIGHT. DEFENSE
SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE BOMBS AND MISSILES ARE AIMED AT
IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. CORRESPONDENT JIM RANDLE
REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, WHERE OFFICIALS SAY THIS WAVE OF
ATTACKS IS LIKELY TO INCLUDE A BARRAGE OF CRUISE MISSILES FROM
U-S HEAVY BOMBERS.
TEXT: SECRETARY COHEN SAYS THE INITIAL RAIDS HIT MORE THAN 50
TARGETS IN IRAQ, AND ARE DESIGNED TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR MORE
ATTACKS ON PLACES WHERE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION MAY BE
HIDDEN.
MORE THAN 200 CRUISE MISSILES WERE FIRED FROM NAVY SHIPS, AND 70
STRIKE AIR CRAFT WERE LAUNCHED FROM AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND LAND
BASES.
/// COHEN ACT ///
OUR TARGETS INCLUDE IRAQ'S AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM, ITS
COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM, AIR FIELDS, AND OTHER
MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES. ONE THING
SHOULD BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR, WE ARE CONCENTRATING ON
MILITARY TARGETS, WE ARE NOT ATTACKING THE PEOPLE OF
IRAQ. WE HAVE NO DESIRE TO INCREASE THE SUFFERING
SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS IMPOSED ON HIS PEOPLE.
/// END ACT ///
GENERAL SHELTON SAYS, IRAQI AIRCRAFT HAVE NOT TRIED TO STOP THE
MASSIVE ATTACKS. HE SHOWED REPORTERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF
TARGETS IN IRAQ BEFORE AND AFTER THE RAIDS. HE SAYS A GROUP OF
BUILDINGS HOUSING IRAQ'S REPUBLICAN GUARD WAS HIT HARD.
/// SHELTON ACT ///
HERE ARE THEIR BARRACKS, SHOWN IN THIS AREA, AREA ONE,
BEFORE THE STRIKE ALONG WITH THE HEADQUARTERS AREA. YOU
SEE OVER HERE THAT THIS HEADQUARTERS IS NOW RUBBLE.
/// END ACT ///
SECRETARY COHEN SAYS EVEN WHEN THE SCHEDULED AIR RAIDS ARE
FINISHED, THE UNITED STATES WILL TRY TO "CONTAIN" IRAQ, UNTIL AND
UNLESS SADDAM HUSSEIN KEEPS PROMISES TO GET RID OF WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION AND ALLOW U-N EXPERTS TO VERIFY THE CLAIM.
(SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
17-Dec-98 3:17 PM EST (2017 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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